Parliament, Saturday, 25 November 2023 – The residents of Greater Sedibeng District Municipality have pleaded with the Portfolio Committee on Health to recommend the return of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) for further discussion. Many participants raised concerns that the Bill in its current form has the potential to devastate the economy of their district which is anchored on the business of one tobacco producing company in the area.
The committee concluded the first of three public hearings in Gauteng at the Heidelberg Town Hall with many participants rejecting the Bill. They argued that the Bill in its current form will squeeze compliant businesses and cause the influx of illicit cigarette traders in the market. They view this as a side effect of the Bill that will have a far reaching negative impact on the contribution by legitimate tobacco producers to the national fiscus.
Also, participants argued that the Bill lacks enforcement mechanism and that will render it ineffective. They argued that the increase in consumption of tobacco products during the lockdown when the sale of tobacco products was prohibited is indicative of the lack of practical monitoring and enforcement provisions to ensure effective implementation.
Some participants against the Bill argued that the consumption of tobacco products is not a problem. According to them, unemployment and lack of information are major reasons of the current high levels of consumption of tobacco products. They urged the government to rather focus on finding solutions to the problem of drugs and illicit tobacco products.
Meanwhile, there were those that argued that by regulating electronic delivery systems and tobacco products under one umbrella is concerning as these products are different. They were also critical in their assessment that the Bill is silent on harm reduction strategies and that it doesn’t offer smokers alternatives to combustible cigarettes which they argue pose more serious health risks.
Despite the rejection of the Bill by the majority of the participants, those who supported it argued that the misconception that the Bill intends to ban the consumption of tobacco products must be dispelled. They argued that the regulation of tobacco products will protect non-smokers against exposure to second hand smoke. They argued that in many instances smokers did not respect the right of non-smokers to live in a smoke free environment. They supported and welcomed the designation of smoke-free zones.
Furthermore, they argued that plain packaging and the display at the point of sale will serve to discourage compulsive consumption. They underscored that colourful packaging was intended to create new and younger smokers, something they argued was not desirable for the future and development of South Africa.
They also argued that the regulation of the tobacco industry is necessary to alleviate the burden of disease and the cost to the Department of Health which spent about R40 billion in providing necessary health services to patients with ailments induced by consumption of tobacco products. Regarding the regulation of electronic delivery systems, they highlighted that this is necessary to ensure that consumers are aware of elements in those products. Furthermore, they argued that the prevalence in consumption of these products was worrying especially among the youth.
The committee welcomed the massive turnout of the residents and highlighted that such participation strengthens South Africa’s democratic order. Today the committee conducts the second leg of the Gauteng public participation process at the Westonoria Banquet Hall.
The Bill 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 that 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 details of the public hearings in Gauteng Province are as follows:
|
DATE |
DISTRICT/ LOCAL MUNICIPALITY |
Venue |
TIME |
|
Saturday, 25th November 2023 |
West Rand Region |
Westonoria Banquet Hall |
10:00 – 15:00 |
|
Sunday,26th November 2023 |
Tshwane Region |
Tshwane House Council Chamber (Pretoria Central) |
10:00 – 15:00 |
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, DR KENNETH JACOBS
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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