Strict new smoking laws for South Africa will soon be tabled before the National Assembly, where the Department of Health wants to tighten its control on where smokers can light up, and better regulate the emerging vaping sector. Broadly, the draft laws cast a wide net to create zero-smoking spaces in public areas while also...
Tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke continue to contribute to over 9% of the mortality burden in South Africa. This galvanised the National Department of Health to gazette the Draft Tobacco Products and the Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill that will drastically change smoking laws in the country. The Bill will be introduced to the National Assembly in the coming...
While an overstatement of the illicit trade of tobacco products may suit the tobacco-industry agenda when it comes to mid-term budgets, it should not deter strong tax increases aimed at reducing tobacco consumption in South Africa, says Dr Sharon Nyatsanza of the National Council Against Smoking. Focus should fall on strong law enforcement and securing...
The South African government has recently stepped up its efforts to address the country’s rampant illicit tobacco trade. The South African Revenue Service (SARS), facing a severe and persistent reduction of cigarette excise tax revenues, is now endeavouring to curb the illicit tobacco trade by enhancing inspections and search and seizure operations against cigarette companies and...
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is going after sin taxes owed to it from the illicit sale of cigarettes in the country. Johnny Moloto, the general manager for British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA), told Fin24 that almost 70% of all cigarettes consumed in the country now belong to illicit brands, turning South Africa into the...
The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) has joined South Africa’s public health organisations in calling for urgent regulation of e-cigarettes through the swift implementation of the long-awaited Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, saying the Bill could have an impact well beyond South Africa’s borders. Leonce Sessou, Executive Secretary of ATCA, says “Global...
The Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which would replace the decade old Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act, is finally on its way to Parliament. The new Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, has been in the works since 2018 and was announced by Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla in...
Electronic Vapour Products (EVPs) were designed as tobacco harm reduction tools to deliver nicotine to adult smokers with the aim of helping them find a potentially less harmful alternative. The inhalation of smoke from combustible cigarettes – along with tar and carbon monoxide - raises health risks for a range of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including...
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal ruled this week that the government was wrong to ban the sale of cigarettes at the start of the nationwide hard lockdown in March 2020. The court found that there was no scientific justification for the continued ban on the sale of tobacco products. Tobacco businesses say they are still recovering...
JOHANNESBURG – A striking NO to tobacco mural painted by pupils from Sharonlea Primary in Randburg has been announced as the winner of the Sibo Manqoba Schools Mural Art Competition. The Johannesburg school was awarded the top honours after it beat other selected schools who were all asked to produce artworks in the form of...
