Electronic smoking covered in new tobacco control Bill

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has published the long-awaited Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which paves the way for much stricter tobacco laws that will bring e-cigarettes into the regulatory fold. A Business Day report says the Bill was approved by Cabinet in April and published in the Government Gazette on 9 May, with a three-month public comment period. In the preamble to the Bill, the Minister said strong action was required to deter people from using tobacco products, to protect non-smokers from exposure to tobacco smoke and to encourage existing users to quit. Electronic delivery devices were to be regulated because they contained nicotine and the long-term effects of their use was unknown, he said. Key proposals in the Bill include a ban on vending machines, the introduction of plain packaging and graphic health warnings, regulation of electronic delivery devices and much tighter control on smoking in public places.

Full City Press report

Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, including call for comment