South Africa is among the last 60 countries that have yet to ban or regulate e-cigarettes, and has been tardy in making tobacco products more expensive in efforts to reduce smoking, according to a report from the World Health Organisation (WHO), released at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin recently.
A total of 110 countries now insist that tobacco companies label their products with graphic health warnings, while 25 countries require plain packaging aimed at reducing the appeal of branded cigarettes – but South Africa is not yet among them.
The “Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025” report, which reveals that tobacco is responsible for more than 7m deaths a year, assessed countries’ progress in implementing six measures ranging from advertising bans to protecting people from second-hand tobacco smoke – recommended by the WHO as the best evidence-based measures to counter the harms of tobacco.
An estimated 29.4% of SA’s population over 15 either smoke or use smokeless tobacco products, found the 2021 “Global Adult Tobacco Survey”.
Business Day reports that despite the National Department of Health having talked about stricter tobacco rules and regulation of new generation products for almost a decade, only now are MPs considering the draft Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which seeks to regulate all of these products in exactly the same way.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the strongest possible measures should be implemented against vapes.
“A lot of research has been undertaken highlighting the dangers posed by vapes to the lungs … and the potential health conditions that can arise after use,” he said.
Ireland follows EU regulations on vapes that ban sales to anyone under 18, and is preparing to ban disposable vapes, which have been prohibited in Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom since 1 June.
While striking gains in reducing smoking have been made in many countries that have introduced graphic health warnings for cigarettes, packaging for smokeless tobacco, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes are poorly regulated, warned the WHO.
And although tobacco legislation in South Africa requires manufacturers to place written health warnings on packaging, this does not apply to new generation products.
The report shows that mandatory health warnings cover on average only 20% of tobacco packaging in SA.
SA is also falling short on WHO’s recommendation to reduce smoking by making tobacco products more expensive. Branded tobacco products are just as affordable as they were in 2014, the report shows.
Business Day article – SA lags global efforts to counter tobacco harm, warns WHO (Restricted access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Passing of Tobacco Bill urged for SA and its 12.7m smokers
Tobacco firms aggressively targeting youth – SAMRC