Anyone or business that sells cigarettes to a minor can be fined or sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.<\/p>\n
This includes companies that distribute any confectionery, toy or any items that resemble or likely promote the related reduced-risk products.<\/p>\n
This is according to the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which is currently before Parliament.<\/p>\n
South Africa is forging ahead with proposed legislation that introduces strict new antismoking rules and regulates e-cigarettes.<\/p>\n
The bill proposes the legislation of electronic nicotine and non-nicotine cigarettes for the first time and the introduction of 100% smoke-free areas, including in some public areas, workplaces or vehicles.<\/p>\n
It also seeks to change how cigarettes are packaged and recommend the use of graphic warnings and a total ban on the display points of sale and vending machines for tobacco products.<\/p>\n
Speaking during the tobacco control webinar on Wednesday, Health Department’s Dr Tshimi Lynn Moeng-Mahlangu said the draft bill seeks to repeal the current Act of 1993.<\/p>\n
The new bill, according to Moeng-Mahlangu, also aims to promote public health and align with the World Health Organisation (WHO) WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) treaty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen amendments were introduced in the old Act, we realised that the amendments were more than 50%, which means that it would be more like a new Act altogether. So, we were legally advised that we need to come up with a completely new bill so that we can then repeal the current Tobacco Act,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
Electronic nicotine cigarettes<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition, she told attendees that the current Act also does not allow the regulation of e-cigarettes and vaping products.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, the other challenge is that there’s easy access at the moment of all these new products, increasing exposure to children and everyone. There\u2019s no control,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Moeng-Mahlangu believes that if the country maintains the status quo, e-cigarettes will continue to flood the market and government will fail to enforce these products if they remain unregulated.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother option that I think a lot of industry players would promote is that we should educate people, do more research and monitor.\u201d<\/p>\n However, she believes that education alone will not deter people from using these products.<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, you need to also create an environment that is inhibiting access to these products. This option is not comprehensive and will not single-handedly achieve the desired outcomes of limiting access and demand.\u201d<\/p>\n She thinks that government needs to control the marketing and use of all emerging new innovative products, which have proved to be harmful.<\/p>\n Children<\/strong><\/p>\n The official quoted the WHO report that found that e-cigarettes are \u201cundoubtedly harmful\u201d and contains toxic substances, including nicotine, which is highly addictive.<\/p>\n According to the findings, they can lead to a heart attack and a stroke and can harm brain development in adolescents.<\/p>\n \u201cThe long-term health effects of these products remain unclear, but if we’re going to wait as a country until we see the long-term effects, it might be too late for us to stop, and many young people will be addicted to the product already.\u201d<\/p>\n Moeng-Mahlangu said the government is determined to protect young children, non-users, pregnant women and families where there are non-smokers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a constitutional imperative for government to protect our citizens from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. If you have a cr\u00e8che where the owner or other are people smoking, or have children in the car and adults are smoking, that alone is a problem because it means children are exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n Citing the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 study, Moeng-Mahlangu said that 25.8% of South Africans aged 15 and above are tobacco smokers.<\/p>\n \u201cIn some of the shops, you can see that the cigarette is placed next to sweets, which means even children can have access to them.\u201d<\/p>\n She also noted that tobacco-related illnesses cost the country about R42 billion whereas the industry contributes between R12 and R15 billion to the fiscus.<\/p>\n
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