Public Hearing on Tobacco Control Bill Scheduled for Free State Over the Weekend
Free State Province — The Portfolio Committee on Health is set to hold public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) in the Free State Province this weekend, from October 28 to October 29, 2023. This is the fourth province the committee is visiting as part of its nationwide public consultation program, following hearings in North West, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.
According to a new release by Parliament of South Africa, the hearings aim to encourage meaningful public participation in shaping the Bill. To that end, the committee scheduled the hearings over the weekend to provide interested organizations, stakeholders, and individuals an adequate opportunity to be involved. Dr. Kenneth Jacobs, Chairperson of the committee, stated that the goal is for the people of the Free State to follow the precedent set by other provinces in contributing to this important legislation.
During the public hearings in Mpumalanga, the Bill elicited a range of opinions. Concerns were raised about the absence of practical measures to enforce the proposed law, especially considering the current inability to enforce existing regulations. Participants also expressed apprehension about the Bill’s potential negative impact on tobacco farmers, who contribute over R80 million to the province’s gross domestic product. Despite these concerns, some attendees voiced support for the Bill’s potential to decrease tobacco consumption and lighten the financial load on healthcare systems. There was also backing for Clause 3(5)(a), which aims to prohibit the display of tobacco products to prevent impulsive sales.
The Bill itself aims to align South African tobacco control laws with the World Health Organization Framework Convention and to repeal the Tobacco Control Act of 1993. Among its provisions, the Bill proposes designating indoor public places and certain outdoor areas as 100% smoke-free, banning cigarette sales via vending machines, implementing plain packaging with graphic health warnings, disallowing displays at point-of-sale, and regulating electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems.