South Africa has multi-million rand smoking problem – and SARS is taking action
Despite the efforts of authorities, illicit cigarettes in their millions are filtering into South Africa, sidestepping tax and customs levies. Edward Kieswetter, the commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), said: “The country is battling the scourge of illicit cigarettes smuggled from a neighbouring country, with a view to not only displace legitimate manufacturers...
Philip Morris expands Iqos portfolio in South Africa
Tobacco company Philip Morris International has launched a new version of its Iqos heat-not-burn cigarette alternative in South Africa. The Iqos Originals One is an upgraded and renamed version of the Iqos 3 Multi. Iqos Originals One comes in four new colours and is fully compatible with existing Heets tobacco sticks. The product is now...
WHO boss recognises Nairobi health official, Migori farmer for fighting tobacco
Tobacco use kills about 9,000 Kenyans every year through diseases such as cancer, the Ministry of Health says. In Summary • Head of the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance Joel Gitali, who won the award last year, congratulated the winners. • Kenyan law stipulates a need for an alternative to tobacco production that protects farmers. A villager who helps...
World No Tobacco Day 2023 awards – the winners
Every year, WHO recognizes individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition takes the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Awards, World No Tobacco Day Awards, and in 2023, one WHO Director-General's Special Recognition Certificate. WHO Director-General Special awards Dr Odete Maria...
Misleading tobacco industry stealth advertising misrepresents Swedish e-cigarette model
With the absence of regulations in South Africa, e-cigarette use is increasing among youths, perpetuating nicotine addiction and leading some of them to start smoking traditional cigarettes. here have recently been misleading calls for South Africa to adopt the Swedish model of regulating e-cigarettes, a model positioned by tobacco-industry supported organisations as making alternative products widely available,...
Seeds of change in Kenya as farmers lead way on tobacco-free farms
The initiative, supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in cooperation with the Kenyan authorities, is helping to “move the needle” on ending the global tobacco epidemic, said WHO. Kenya is the first country to participate in the scheme, which offers training to tobacco farmers so that they...
Launch of tobacco-free farms in Kenya
Nairobi - Hundreds of farmers in Migori County, Kenya will break free from risky tobacco farming and transition to producing more sustainable crops, through the Tobacco-Free Farms Project being launched today. Tobacco-Free Farms project is a joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the...
Say no to tobacco farming
Farmer Reginald Omulo walks between rows of healthy maize and beans, stopping to admire what he has planted. Like many farmers in Uriri Sub-county, Migori County, Kenya, Omulo used to cultivate tobacco. But no longer. He is now passionate about his family’s shift to grow alternative crops, confident that their hard work will be the foundation for...
Nigeria May Push Tobacco Tax to 50% to Control Smoking
The Federal Government has confirmed plans to increase excise tax on tobacco products from 30 per cent ad-valorem to 50 per cent as part of measures to control tobacco smoking in the country. Speaking on Tuesday, Dr Mangai Malau, the Head of the Tobacco Control Unit, Noncommunicable Disease Division, Federal Ministry of Health, said the...
New smoking tax hitting South Africa next month
From 1 June 2023, nicotine-substitute solutions, including vaping products, will be included in the tax net with a flat excise duty rate of R2.90/ml. Excise duty on vaping tobacco products has been in the pipeline for a while – the tax was first announced in finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2022 budget speech. The South African Revenue...
