Contrary to scientific data from across the globe, a study by South African researchers claims that the majority of e-cigarette users they surveyed continued to smoke, and that only a few of them managed to remain abstinent from cigarettes.
South Africa’s Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, was first announced last May by Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla, and is currently being reviewed. The Bill proposes stricter e-cig regulations, and restrictions on the use, marketing, and sales of certain tobacco products in South Africa. Moreover, it would set in place a provision allowing the government to implement a “100% public cigarette ban”.
The detrimental aspect of the bill is that it fails to acknowledge the relative benefits of tobacco harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes, and would regulate them in the same way as regular cigarettes. Supporting this move, director of the Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, said that local research counters claims “made by the e-cigarette industry” indicating the relative safety of the products.
Diane Caruana – VapingPost – 2021-07-01.
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