Proposed vaping and cigarette restrictions move forward in Parliament
South Africa's Health Portfolio committee advanced a bill to tighten vaping and smoking rules, calling for risk‑based differentiation and further amendments.Summary
The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill received majority support from the Health Portfolio committee, with ten parties voting in favour and only the Freedom Front Plus opposing. The vote allows the bill to proceed to clause‑by‑clause consideration, but MPs stressed that the final version must address concerns about product differentiation, penalties, illicit trade, enforcement and impacts on businesses and consumers.
The bill currently proposes indoor bans on smoking and vaping, plain packaging with graphic warnings, removal of retail displays, bans on advertising, sponsorships and promotion, and restrictions on vending‑machine sales, treating vaping like cigarettes. Committee chair Faith Muthambi highlighted the need for evidence‑based, risk‑proportionate regulation, noting extensive public hearings across nine provinces. Parties such as the DA, EFF and MK Party backed the move but urged amendments to separate combustible and non‑combustible products and to base rules on harm reduction and science.
(Source：Iol)
