A leading Italian physician and tobacco harm reduction expert, Professor Riccardo Polosa, has called on the South African parliament to adopt science-based policies as it considers the new Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill. Speaking to the parliamentary portfolio committee on health, Polosa, who leads the Centre of Excellence for Harm Reduction at the University of Catania, urged policymakers to seriously consider evidence-based harm reduction strategies, emphasizing the role of e-cigarettes in helping smokers quit.
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Liquor traders in South Africa are raising concerns about the significant business impact of the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill currently being processed by the Department of Health. The bill proposes a complete ban on all indoor smoking and vaping, and also restricts use in certain outdoor areas, a move that traders say will be costly and difficult to implement.
Read moreAs South Africa grapples with a significant increase in combustible tobacco smoking rates, the vaping industry is calling for a shift towards “smarter, evidence-based” nicotine policies. This plea comes as Parliament holds public consultations on the stringent Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which seeks to impose stricter regulations on product processing, advertising, and packaging for both traditional tobacco and electronic delivery systems, including nicotine and non-nicotine vapes.
Read moreCansa & youth forum demand stricter vape laws in South Africa, citing rising teen addiction & industry marketing tactics ahead of World No Tobacco Day.
Read moreSouth Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has confirmed increases in excise duties on tobacco and vaping products in the latest iteration of the budget, dubbed “Budget 3.0,” presented on May 21, 2025. While a controversial VAT hike was scrapped, consumers of cigarettes and alternative nicotine products like vapes will face higher prices.
Read moreAnalysis of Namibia’s surging N$1.4B vape & hookah imports, insights for industry, and upcoming regulatory changes impacting the market.
Namibia has experienced a dramatic surge in the importation of water pipe tobacco (hookah), vapes, and related mixtures. Between 2021 and 2024, the country imported over N$1.4 billion worth of these products. This figure marks a substantial increase from just N$108.2 million recorded in 2020, according to data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
Read moreIn the 2025 South African Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a series of proposed excise duty increases on tobacco products and electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems, commonly known as “vaping” devices. These hikes, which exceed the anticipated inflation rate for the 2025/26 financial year, are set to significantly impact smokers and vapers across the country.
Read moreIn recent years, a new trend has emerged among South African youth: the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping. What was once marketed as a tool to help adults quit smoking has now become a widespread phenomenon among teenagers, raising serious concerns about nicotine addiction and the long-term health effects on this vulnerable population.
Read moreThe South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has officially published its long-anticipated standard for vaping products, marking a significant milestone for both manufacturers and consumers. Asanda Gcoyi, CEO of the Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA), emphasizes that this move will elevate consumer safety within the vaping industry.
Read moreSouth Africa’s Parliament has revived the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, a piece of legislation that aims to impose stricter regulations on the sale, advertising, and use of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems. The Bill, which lapsed at the end of the previous administration, now sits in Parliament and is on the agenda of the seventh administration.
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