According to All Africa's report on November 26th, there is still controversy in South Africa over whether e-cigarettes are a helpful tool for quitting smoking or a factor that promotes smoking. Additionally, the impact of high taxes on potentially causing people to start smoking again is still undecided.
The Health Portfolio Committee of the South African Parliament has called for more research to compare the health risks of e-cigarettes with traditional smoking methods, with the aim of better understanding the controversial Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Act.
If the bill is passed, e-cigarettes will be classified as tobacco products, which means they will not be allowed to be used in public places, e-cigarette advertising will be prohibited, and the Health Minister will determine the design of product packaging and labels.
The committee expressed concerns about the draft law, as it fails to differentiate between e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco products, and also overlooks the possibility that e-cigarettes may be considered a tool to help quit smoking. These concerns were raised in the public consultation report on the legislation.
A survey has indicated that in 2021, nearly 30% of South Africans aged 15 and above use tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
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