Tobacco industry warns of illegal trade

It has asked Parliament’s Health Committee to consider this during debate on changes to tobacco-control laws, says a Business Day report. But most of the submissions to public hearings yesterday urged the Health Department to get even tougher on the tobacco industry than already provided for in amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act. The amendment will bar smokers from smoking in the doorways of public buildings and will compel the industry to identify all the ingredients in their products. While tobacco industry submissions to the hearings claimed to support ‘certain legislative changes’ they argued that over-regulation would lead to heightened illegal trade. Francois van der Merwe, of the Tobacco Institute of SA, a voluntary industry association, said the incidence and adverse consequences of illegal trading in tobacco products should not be underestimated. Full Business Day report Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill (PDF file)