Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in South Africa

4th November 2024: South Africa: The Portfolio Committee on Health has resumed public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which aims to regulate the sale, advertising and packaging of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. The hearings are taking place in the provinces that were not reached by the previous parliament. Following the public participation, which is scheduled to end on 10th November, the committee will review all public submissions and engage with organisations that made written submissions.
25th October 2024: South Africa: Yesterday (24th October), the Portfolio Committee on Health met with the Department of Health to discuss the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which aims to regulate the sale, advertising and packaging of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. Members of the committee questioned why the bill does not differentiate between the levels of harm posed by different nicotine-containing products and why harm reduction approaches are not applied to tobacco in the same way as for other substances. The committee will conduct a public consultation with stakeholders, but specific details were not disclosed.
10th September 2024: South Africa: Last Wednesday (4th September), the Portfolio Committee on Health deliberated on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. Deputy minister of health Joe Phaahla highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing the health risks associated with tobacco use and urged the need for the bill, which aims to reduce smoking rates and protect vulnerable populations. The committee is likely to conclude public hearings in the last two remaining provinces, where hearings have not yet been held.
29th August 2024: South Africa: The Department of Health said it will reintroduce the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery System Bill to Parliament on 4th September 2024, press reports. The bill aims to regulate the sale, advertising and packaging of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. The Portfolio Committee on Health said it hoped to process the new law quickly, starting from where it left off. The public participation process in the provinces will be completed before moving on to public hearings in Parliament.
14th August 2024: South Africa: The Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which would regulate the sale, advertising and packaging of tobacco products and e-cigarettes, has been revived by Parliament for further processing and is on the agenda of the new government, press reports. The bill was introduced in Parliament in 2022 and public hearings were held in the country before the elections.
17th June 2024: South Africa: Cyril Ramaphosa, who has been in power since 2018, has been re-elected as president after his party, the African National Congress (ANC), reached a coalition deal with the centre-right Democratic Alliance, press reports. The deal might have an impact on the tobacco and vaping industry since the ANC has lost its parliamentary majority and the Democratic Alliance does not support the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, arguing that the bill is “unreasonable” and the focus must shift to the eradication of the illicit tobacco trade.
4th June 2024: South Africa: After counting the votes from last week’s elections, the current ruling African National Congress Party (ANC) only garnered 40.2% of the votes and has lost its majority in the National Assembly, press reports. The parties have two weeks to elect a president and form a coalition government. It is unclear if a weakened ANC would mean a shift in the positioning of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which aims to regulate the sale, advertising and packaging of tobacco products and e-cigarettes and is currently being debated in the National Assembly, will have to be resumed in the new government.
28th March 2024: South Africa: The last day for public comments on the 2024 Draft Rates Bill is Sunday (31st March). The bill increases the heated tobacco tax from ZAR7.80 ($0.40) per ten sticks to ZAR8.16 ($0.42) per ten sticks. The authority will now engage with stakeholders through public workshops.
27th February 2024: South Africa: The National Treasury has opened the 2024 Draft Rates Bill for public comment. The bill increases heated tobacco tax from ZAR7.80 ($0.40) per ten sticks to ZAR8.16 ($0.42) per ten sticks. Comments can be sent to the National Treasury until 31st March. After receipt of the comments, the authority will engage with stakeholders through public workshops.
22nd February 2024: South Africa: The minister of finance, Enoch Godongwana, said in his 2024 budget speech that the ministry will increase tobacco excise duties by 4.7%. Although he mentioned only cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobacco, we understand that the measure will also affect heated tobacco products (HTPs).
24th January 2024: South Africa: The Portfolio Committee on Health will resume public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. The next hearings will be held in the Eastern Cape from 26th to 28th January. Out of a total of nine provinces, the committee has already held public hearings in five of them.
16th August 2023: South Africa: The Portfolio Committee on Health will hold public hearings between 18th and 20th August on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. The bill aims to regulate the sale, advertising and packaging of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. Industry members, organisations and individuals can participate, and written submissions can be sent until 4th September.

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