South Africa Moves Closer to Stricter Tobacco Control Laws
South Africa's Parliament has endorsed a bill to modernize tobacco laws, banning indoor smoking and plain packaging.Summary
After years of delays, South Africa's Parliament has endorsed the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, moving the country closer to stricter tobacco control measures. The proposed legislation aims to modernize outdated laws, most of which were passed in 1993, by banning smoking and vaping in indoor public spaces, introducing plain packaging with graphic health warnings, restricting advertising, and regulating e-cigarettes. Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, from the University of Pretoria, emphasized that the bill is necessary to align South Africa with global standards set by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as the country has not implemented most of the treaty's provisions. Key changes include tighter controls on public smoking areas and the banning of cigarette vending machines accessible to minors.
(Source：vocfm.co.za)
