The Portfolio Committee on Health has held more public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill in Mpumalanga, with opinions on the bill again coming in mixed. The Bill, which has been met with vehement opposition from those within the tobacco industry, broadly aims to introduce the following: Indoor public places...
The Portfolio Committee on Health has conducted more public hearings on the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, with participants expressing mixed views. The new Bill has been met with both support and vehement opposition, depending on the clauses being focused on. Broadly, the bill aims to introduce the following: Indoor public places...
Proponents and supporters of the raft of new smoking law for South Africa have reflected on the public feedback on the bill so far, alleging that fear-mongering and misinformation have taken root to manipulate the public into rejecting the bill. The new Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill is currently with the provinces...
While the debate rages on whether or not vaping is “healthier” than smoking – and what implications the activity has for one’s health – insurance experts say that, when it comes to health risk profiles, they’re treated exactly the same. According to Motshabi Nomvethe from professional insurance and healthcare service provider PPS, while smokers have...
They say the new bill in its current form is draconian and could see smokers and retailers facing up to 10 years in prison for minor misdemeanors for failing to abide. CAPE TOWN - Tobacco industry players have criticised the Health Department's Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, saying it stops just short...
The new tobacco bill will hand complete control of South Africa’s cigarette market to the criminal tobacco barons who are already stealing more than R20 billion a year in vital tax revenue. This is the warning from Tax Justice SA (TJSA). “If the kingpins of the illicit cigarette trade were told to draft a plan...
British American Tobacco South Africa (Batsa) has supported small-scale black tobacco farmers with equipment, funding and training since 2011. Some of these farmers in Limpopo feel used. The support dried up with little warning in 2021, leaving many of them in a desperate financial position. Batsa says that the programme was cut down...
The Portfolio Committee on Health has announced that public consultation on the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill will end on 28 July. In a media statement from Parliament, the government said that written submissions on the bill must be emailed to tobaccobill@parliament.gov.za or submitted online at https://forms.gle/FLrhnvThDk8ccLG97. As reported on 22 June, the submission period was originally...
On 31 May 2023, WHO and public health champions around the world will come together to celebrate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) under the theme – We need food, not tobacco! In support of World No Tobacco Day, health and community organisations in South Africa, united through the Protect our Next partnership, are ramping up initiatives that encourage...
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...
