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eNCA
5 days ago
- Health
- eNCA
E-cigarettes at a crossroads: Will SA's Tobacco Bill embrace harm-reduction?
CAPE TOWN - South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in tobacco regulation, as Parliament revisits the controversial Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. The proposed legislation has sparked intense debate between health experts, industry players and policymakers over whether smoke-free alternatives like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products should be treated as tools for harm-reduction or subjected to the same strict regulations as conventional cigarettes. The bill in its current form would impose sweeping new rules, including plain olive-brown packaging for tobacco products, with graphic health warnings covering 65% of the surface; a complete ban on all tobacco advertising and promotions; restrictions to only tobacco and menthol flavours for vaping products; and prohibitions on public vaping wherever smoking is banned. Crucially, it makes no distinction between traditional cigarettes and cigarette alternatives. Philip Morris International (PMI), which manufactures the IQOS heated tobacco products, has emerged as a leading voice calling for regulatory differentiation. Supplied The company cites peer-reviewed studies showing its products release significantly fewer toxicants than traditional cigarettes. "The science is clear; these products are not risk-free, but they are a better alternative for smokers who won't quit," says PMI vice-president for Sub-Saharan Africa, Branislav Bibic. On the sidelines of the company's Technovation conference in Cape Town, Bibic said the plan was to replace cigarettes with smoke-free products. PMI director of external affairs for Southern Africa, Themba Mathebula, has been vocal about the potential consequences of the bill in its current form. He says by 'applying the same restrictions to scientifically proven reduced-risk products as we do to cigarettes, we're essentially telling smokers there's no reason to switch". PMI argues that South Africa could follow the example of countries such as the UK and Japan, where differentiated regulation has coincided with accelerated declines in smoking rates. Supplied However, health advocacy groups remain sceptical. They point to concerns about youth vaping and argue there is insufficient long-term data on the safety of e-cigarettes. Some lawmakers are also hesitant to embrace products claiming harm-reduction without a formal report from the National Economic Development and Labour Council on the science behind these alternatives. The tobacco debate comes at a critical juncture for South Africa's public health and economy. Proponents of harm-reducing products warn that treating all nicotine products equally could stifle innovation and keep safer alternatives out of reach. Critics counter that lax regulation could lead to new public health challenges. South Africa, therefore, faces a fundamental question: Will it join the growing number of countries incorporating harm-reduction into tobacco control, or will it take a more restrictive path? Whatever decision it makes will have lasting implications for millions of South African smokers and the country's public health landscape.
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Industry says scientific innovation could reshape the tobacco landscape in South Africa
South Africa ranked 60th out of 158 countries, 'indicating moderate resistance to illicit trade, but with notable vulnerabilities in areas such as supply chain control and enforcement' capacity. Image: Supplied The government in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent has been urged to consider scientific evidence and innovation when coming up with policies and regulations for the tobacco industry. As experts highlight the dangers associated with tobacco consumption, players in the industry are pushing for the adoption and 'proper regulation of smoke-free nicotine' products. Industry players are basing their approach on scientific innovation and data pointing to tobacco harm reduction through adoption of what they are calling "safer nicotine products" that are smoke-free. This comes at a time when smoking and tobacco consumption is on the increase across Africa, sharply contrasting other developed regions where trends are pointing to a decline in smoking. Nonetheless, Branislav Bibic who is Philip Morris International vice president for Sub-Saharan Africa, on Tuesday said tobacco consumers in South Africa 'are following global trends as they are embracing new' categories that are smokeless. 'Our experience in South Africa is that once these products are made widely available at an accessible price, and consumers are provided accurate information about their benefits, we see a significant switching from cigarettes to smokeless products,' Bibic said at the Technovation Summit in Cape Town. 'Our estimates in South Africa show that already around 20% of the South African legal cigarette market has been replaced by non-smoking products.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Among the sharp differences between the government of South Africa and the value chain industry for tobacco are issues related to the proliferation and best practices in addressing illicit trade. The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has criticised the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill for overlooking 'key realities' on the ground, arguing that the legislation has to stamp out illicit trade in goods and substances. In oral presentations to the parliamentary portfolio committee this month, the CGCSA - which represents companies spanning consumer goods, retail and services sectors - said the tobacco products legislation currently lacks measures to root out the 'unchecked black market and its impact on legal industry value chain and public revenue' flows. Although in South Africa there is currently contested debates over the Tobacco Bill that seeks to bundle together regulation of tobacco cigarettes and smoke-free nicotine products, PMI believes that it will be easy to roll-out these products elsewhere across the continent. This is, however, dependent on these markets putting in place clear and conducive regulatory frameworks. 'Africa can address the smoking epidemic. Let's choose innovation and science and we can help millions of Africans move over to a future free of smoke,' Bibic said.
