BAT Slams South Africa’s New Smoking Bill as “Flawed”
Multinational cigarette manufacturer British American Tobacco (BAT) has strongly criticized South Africa’s proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, arguing it is “critically flawed” and will only harm the compliant market while failing to address the country’s rampant illicit trade.
During public hearings in Parliament, BAT’s head of corporate & regulatory affairs, Johnny Moloto, stated that while the intention to reduce smoking is good, the bill will only affect the 25% of the tobacco market that is already compliant. “This impact will only be felt by a small compliant minority while the illicit majority thrives,” he said.
The bill, drafted by the Health Department, aims to regulate smoking, vapes, and the sale and advertising of these products. Moloto expressed concern that certain sections of the bill hand the health minister a “blank cheque” to dictate every aspect of the industry, including the power to ban product categories like flavors used by adult smokers. BAT believes the legislation does nothing to target the dominant illicit trade, which undermines public health goals.
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