Govt cracks down on vaping – Windhoek Observer
Namibia is strengthening tobacco control laws to regulate e-cigarettes and other nicotine products, addressing loopholes and illicit trade.Summary
The Namibian government is reviewing the Tobacco Products Control Act to address emerging nicotine products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Deputy Minister of Health Susan Ndjaleka announced this at a meeting of the Africa Tobacco Control Core Partners, emphasizing the need to close regulatory gaps. Namibia also aims to join the protocol to eliminate illicit tobacco trade, which undermines public revenue. Experts highlight weak enforcement of existing laws as a major challenge, alongside aggressive marketing of these products to young people via social media, creating a perception of harmlessness. Concerns were raised about the impact of stricter regulations on businesses and livelihoods, as well as the difficulty of preventing sales to minors. The WHO reports 61 million tobacco users in Africa, and globally, tobacco kills over seven million people annually. Urgent action is needed to regulate new nicotine products before they become normalized among Namibian youth.
(Source：Windhoek Observer)
