Clamping down on SA’s illicit tobacco trade is possible with political will
Evidence shows that all manufacturers have a role to play in the ongoing illicit trade in cigarettes
SA has until Thursday to make comments on the Draft Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which has been out for public deliberation for three months. The bill, in essence, aims to reduce the prevalence of smokers in SA, which has plateaued at 19% of the population for the last decade. It proposes to do this by removing indoor smoking areas and regulating the use and sale of e-cigarettes. At the same time, it aims to protect 81% of the population from harmful second hand smoke.
However, these proposed legislative changes have been challenged by the tobacco industry and those that suggest the illicit trade in tobacco is growing. In the latest attempts to challenge the bill and divert attention from the necessity for these legislative changes, they’ve raised questions about the socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) of the bill done by the department of health. The SEIA has been called a motivation rather than an objective assessment of the risks, be...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.