A Slow Burn

The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill saw additional progress towards the end of June this year. Specifically, the Portfolio Committee on Health adopted a motion of desirability of the bill in an almost unanimous vote at a recent meeting.

This means that the committee acknowledged that the legislation is required in principle and must progress towards becoming law. This will see a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill going forward.

Based on minutes of the meeting, a common thread is the concern whether the proposed law is proportionate to the harm it seeks to address against the country’s socio-economic landscape.

In a media statement on Parliament’s website, it is stated that the committee, through its own deliberations and based on scientific representations, recognises that combustible and non-combustible products are not the same, with the former presenting the greatest public health risk. The committee also endorses the need for