Parliament, Sunday, 3 November 2024 – The residents of greater John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality have generally agreed that the tobacco industry requires regulation, but they hold divergent views on most of its aspects.They expressed their views on the Bill when they participated during the second of three public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) that were conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Health in Kuruman yesterday.
Those in support of the Bill said that access to tobacco products, exposed the youth to the harmful effects of these products and that the tax contributions made by the industry do not offset the investment into healthcare to care for ailments as a result of consumption of tobacco products.They highlighted that consumption of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems was alarmingly high and that could be normalised through regulation. Furthermore, they argued that the tobacco industry was only concerned with generating maximum profits from the sale of tobacco products and had little or no regard for the healthcare of the people.
Those against the Bill argued that it will embolden the illicit market and lead to further reduction of the needed tax revenue. They also argued that the tobacco value chain provides employment opportunities that will be inevitably diminished by further regulation of the industry. As an alternative, they called for the return of the Bill to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) to ensure that it gains the necessary consensus.They also argued that the Bill doesn’t address the current market conditions in the country, especially in consideration of the treatment of electronic delivery systems and they called for the separate regulation of these products.
Meanwhile, those who support the Bill welcomed the proposals of plain packaging as they were of the view that the industry used attractive packaging to the youth. They also called for pictorial packaging that shows the side effects of the consumption of tobacco products. Plain packaging to those who oppose the Bill would create an opportunity for unregulated products that might be more harmful to consumers.They told the committee that the plain packaging proposal was a direct infringement of trademark rights of the producers and should be rejected. They also argued that the ban on advertisement of tobacco products on marketing platforms for the promotion of sales would have far reaching negative implications to small businesses that depend on the sale of tobacco products for sustainability.
There was agreement among the residents on the banning of the sale of tobacco products to young children as well as the banning of sale of tobacco products through vending machines on the grounds that the sale of those products to children has a high risk of exposing them to the harmful effects of these products. Furthermore, many of the residents pointed out that spaza shops continued to sell tobacco products to children, and they called for stricter enforcement of protective regulations.
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 today hold the last leg of the Northern Cape public hearings on the Bill in Upington. 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: Sunday,3 November 2024
Venue: Moses Links Hall, Upington
Time: 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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