Proposed smoking regulations ignore 'illicit trade crisis', says consumer body

TimesLIVE

2 days ago

South Africa's proposed smoking regulations ignore the country's 'illicit trade crisis', the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) said on Tuesday.
In its parliamentary submission to the portfolio committee on health, CGCSA said the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill was a 'plug-and-play' import of foreign models that completely disregard the illegal production, smuggling, distribution and sale of tobacco products in the country.
It said while the council, which represents more than 9,000 South African companies, supported evidence-based tobacco control to advance public health, it was concerned about the 'unintended consequences, particularly economic harm and the likely expansion of the illicit tobacco trade, which is estimated to cost South Africa at least R18bn per annum'.
CGCSA CEO Zinhle Tyikwe said the bill adopted a one-size-fits-all approach which did not account for South Africa's unique context. An illicit tobacco market now accounted for an estimated 60—70% of sales.
'We are seeing shortcomings in the bill, particularly where there is a 'plug-and-play' from other foreign models that may be similar to South Africa but are not South African. Here we are in the middle of an illicit trade crisis, not just in tobacco but also in pharmaceuticals, fraud and liquor. As an industry, we deal with issues that are critical, because if people consume alcohol, food or pharmaceutical medicines that are illicit, there is a real risk that people will die. We take our work seriously,' said Tyikwe