Industry experts and tobacco harm reduction advocates have appealed to government to review the newly tabled Tobacco Bill – which will push up the price of nicotine and nicotine-substitute solutions – calling for harm reduction policies to be implemented instead.
The tax is being rolled out ahead of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, approved by the Cabinet in October, which intends to regulate the sale and advertising of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems, reports TimesLIVE.
Dr Kgosi Letlape, president of the African Harm Reduction Alliance, said the Bill aimed to prohibit, restrict and ostracise, entrenching further stigma on people who smoke and those who have chosen a safer alternative.
“It does not provide solutions, and … will be at the cost of human rights and human lives. Today there are numerous approaches and products that can help people quit – or minimise harm when they consume nicotine, and yet South Africa is lagging behind.
“… it is unethical to withhold information on tobacco harm reduction products from smokers that can reduce the damage wreaked by cigarettes,” said Letlape.
He said policymakers needed to scientifically look at combustion versus non-combustion and the risks and benefits associated with each and then act accordingly – and the focus should be on the interests of smokers.
“We are urging our President to secure a smoke-free country and to save the lives of millions of cigarette smokers. Look at Sweden, which didn’t ignore the plight of smokers and combined different strategies for those smokers unable to quit – they’ve achieved astounding results.”
Products that replace cigarettes for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke need to be considered as a step in the right direction, according to Branislav Bibic, MD of Philip Morris SA.
He said while the best choice for any smoker was to quit tobacco and nicotine entirely, “for those don’t quit, it is also clear that scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives, which provide nicotine and are not risk-free, now exist that represent a much better choice than continued smoking”.
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