South Africa Proposes New Tobacco Control Act

Aug.17.2022
South Africa Proposes New Tobacco Control Act
South Africa plans to introduce stricter tobacco control laws including a ban on smoking in public places and tighter regulations for e-cigarettes.

South Africa has been considering a new Tobacco Products Control Act, including e-cigarettes, since 2018. In 2020, Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla announced the bill, which will ban smoking in public places and implement stricter regulations for e-cigarettes, including restrictions on certain tobacco products' use, marketing, and sale. In addition, it will allow the government to implement a complete ban on public smoking.


The government's failure to handle the bill has left public health experts frustrated, who say the country is lagging behind global best practices. The current 2008 Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act, which has been in effect for over a decade, has not been updated to include regulations for new generations of products like electronic cigarettes.


Meanwhile, in December last year, the South African National Treasury released a discussion paper outlining a plan to tax electronic devices. The proposal was open for comment until January 25th and suggests a tax be imposed on electronic cigarette devices and e-liquid/capsules based on their nicotine content.


Recently, the bill has been submitted to parliament. It will replace the ten-year-old Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill.


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