According to Businesstech, the South African Parliamentary Health Committee recently held three public hearings in Gauteng Province to accept the public review of the bill. The bill aims to make significant adjustments to the tobacco market in South Africa, with approximately 29.4% of the adult population currently using tobacco products.
According to the bill, public indoor spaces and specific outdoor spaces will be declared as fully smoke-free areas, sales of cigarettes through vending machines will be prohibited, flat packaging with graphic health warnings and images will be required, display at sales points will be prohibited, and electronic nicotine delivery systems and non nicotine delivery systems will be regulated and controlled.


The committee expressed its hope for these modifications to South Africa's smoking laws to strengthen public health protection measures, align South Africa's tobacco control laws with the World Health Organization Framework Convention, and repeal the 1993 Tobacco Control Act.
The committee will resume further public activities in KwaZulu Natal Province in January 2024.