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Parliament, Friday, 1 November 2024 – The majority of participants of the greater Frances Baard District Municipality in the Northern Cape have come out to support the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) highlighting the health benefits that will be accrued to mainly the youth.
The committee concluded a successful first leg of Northern Cape public participation process in the province. Participants, mainly young people, highlighted that the increased propensity to consume tobacco products and emerging electronic delivery systems posed health risks to consumers hence the need for regulations.
They highlighted that the electronic delivery systems had unknown chemicals that may be harmful to the health of the people. Young people agreed with the Bill’s intention to deter people, especially children and youth from using tobacco products and exposure to harmful products.
Parents also highlighted concerns that smokers send young children to buy tobacco products at spaza shops exposing and inducing those children to early smoking. Parents welcomed the provision of the Bill for additional requirements to prevent access to tobacco products by children. Also, some participants welcomed the total ban of the sale of cigarettes through vending machines as this will reduce probability of access to tobacco products for children and the underage youth.
While some participants welcomed the provisions of the Bill, they have called for measures to improve the high youth unemployment rate in the country. They argued that due to the high unemployment rate many young people were loitering on the streets and end up smoking because smoking looked cool.
Supporters of the Bill also called for regular spot checks for illicit tobacco products especially those sold by spaza shops. Furthermore, they called for stronger enforcement measures to ensure adequate and harsher penalties for businesses that continue to sell tobacco products to children.
Despite the support of the majority on the Bill, some of the participants highlighted the negative impact of the Bill on the economy particularly on small and medium enterprises that are dependent on the sale of tobacco products to derive a living. They argued that the ban on advertising will directly impact the ability to sell their products.
Some participants said that although they agreed with the regulation of the tobacco industry, they argued that the current Bill will expose the industry to further illicit trade in tobacco products. Some pointed out that the illicit trade market was currently overwhelming the legal sale market, and that plain packaging will be opening the market for further infiltration by the illicit market which did not pay taxes to the South African Revenue Service. Those against the Bill in its current form called for further engagement that will deliver a regulation that will ensure stronger measures against illicit trade in tobacco products.
The committee is confident that it has created a conducive platform for constructive inputs on the Bill, irrespective of the views held in Kimberley. The committee underscored its satisfaction that meaningful public participation was undertaken. “What was more satisfying for the committee was that over 90% of the participants in Kimberley were young people who are saying to us that this Bill will have a positive impact on their future and the future of the coming generations. All the views shared with us will be considered when the committee deliberates on the Bill after the completion of the public participation process,” said Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the Chairperson of the committee.
The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) seeks to strengthen public health protection measures, align South African tobacco control law with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention, and repeal the Tobacco Control Act, 1993 (Act No. 83 of 1993).
The proposed legislative and policy changes seek to introduce the following:
(a) indoor public places and certain outdoor areas will be designated 100 per cent smoke-free;
(b) a ban on the sale of cigarettes through vending machines;
(c) plain packaging with graphic health warnings and pictorials;
(d) a ban on display at point of sale; and
(e) the regulation and control of electronic nicotine delivery systems and non-nicotine delivery systems.
The committee will tomorrow hold the second leg of public hearings on the Bill in Kuruman. The committee calls on all residents in the area to come in their numbers and share their views with the committee.
The details of the public hearings in the Northern Cape are as follows:
|
DATE |
Venue |
TIME |
|
Saturday, 02 November 2024 |
Wrenchville Community Hall in Kuruman |
10:00 – 15:00 |
|
Sunday,03 November 2024 |
Moses Links Hall, Upington, |
10:00 – 15:00 |
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, DR SIBONGISENI DHLOMO
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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