The Portfolio Committee on Health has successfully conducted the second of three public participation sessions on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) in Limpopo at the Nkowankowa Community Hall in Tzaneed yesterday where residents presented mixed views on the Bill.
While the Bill received diverse and contrasting views, a concern over the inability of the state to enforce the existing legislation on tobacco products due to inadequate capacity was highlighted. Some of those who supported the Bill called for the inclusion of strident enforcement measures in the Bill against the sale of tobacco products to young people.
Those who were against the Bill emphasised the importance of the implementation of the current legislation arguing that adding a new one without guarantees to make the current one work will be futile and a waste of time. They called for the enforcement of compliance before any consideration of new laws.
Mixed views were highlighted on the impact of the Bill on the economy. Those who rejected the Bill called for a cost benefit analysis of the Bill especially because they were of the view that the 2018 cost benefit study that was done is outdated as it does not address the existing environment within the industry. Small-scale tobacco traders argued that the Bill will negatively affect their businesses and inadvertently force them to shut down their businesses and that will raise the already high rate of unemployment in the country.
Those who supported the Bill argued that the health and welfare of the people must be at the centre and be placed above in the scheme of factors that include generation of maximum profits in the debate. They argued that the industry’s contribution through tax was miniscule compared to the huge financial expenditure the government makes for the treatment of the victims of tobacco in the country.
The regulation of electronic delivery system also attracted mixed responses. Some supporters of the Bill argued that the regulation of the tobacco products will ensure that consumers are aware of their harmful effects as well as their contents while those against cautioned that tobacco products are different and they must be regulated differently.
Those against the Bill also rejected the standardisation of packaging and labelling of tobacco products because that will have a negative impact on job opportunities within the advertising sector. An argument was advanced that plain packaging will strengthen the illicit trade market and that illegal cigarettes will dominate the market. Those who supported the Bill highlighted that the banning of attractive packaging will lead to the reduction of consumption of tobacco products.
An appeal was made for the government to focus its energies to address the increasing use of drugs and other socio-economic challenges facing South Africa. Those who rejected the Bill underscored that it has a potential to close job opportunities that the industry creates and according to them that will have catastrophic economic consequences. Meanwhile, the supporters of the Bill reiterated its potential to protect non-smokers, children, and pregnant women from smokers. Some parents said the Bill would deter the consumption of tobacco products by young children.
The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) seeks to strengthen public health protection measures and align the South African tobacco control law with World Health Organisation Framework Convention and to repeal the Tobacco Control Act, 1993 (Act No. 83 of 1993). The proposed legislative and policy changes seek to introduce the following:
Indoor public places and certain outdoor areas that will be determined to be 100 per cent smoke-free.
ban the sale of cigarettes through vending machines.
plain packaging with graphic health warnings and pictorials.
ban on display at point-of-sale; and
the regulation and control of electronic nicotine delivery systems and non-nicotine delivery systems.
The committee will today host the last public hearings in Limpopo at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane. The committee invites all interested individuals and organisations to come and share their views with the committee.
Source: Parliament of South Africa