Newly-elected president for International Tobacco Growers Association Abel Banda, informed members the press that the tobacco association will state its position on the United States government’s decision to ban tobacco and tobacco products from Malawi over alleged child labour activities.

Banda said he had received communication from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development that the matter would be looked into by all concerned stakeholders.

“Most of you have heard about the communication about WRO by America on our tobacco and tobacco products. This issue is to be handled by all stakeholders. A meeting has been called on November 13 2019. We are going to talk about the matter when the government makes its decision,” he said.

Human rights lawyers are bringing a case against British American Tobacco (BAT) in the high court in London over child labour in Malawi’s tobacco fields. The incident has resulted into the United States pulling out of imports from Malawi. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a statement in which it announced halting tobacco imports from the country. Following the Human rights lawyers case, all Importers will have to prove the tobacco is not produced with labour prohibited under US law to have the shipment released.