TISA not given opportunity to contribute to new survey on tobacco

12 Aug 2013

Commenting on the release of the results of the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Sanhanes-1), the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa (TISA) said on 8 August, that it was unfortunate that the tobacco industry was not provided with an opportunity to contribute its views to the study, nor had it had the opportunity to study all the results.

Total ban on smoking?

"We will respond more fully in due course but, on first glance, we are pleased that the health survey agreed with what we have been advising all along - that education is the strongest catalyst for achieving the Department's healthcare objectives," comments Francois van der Merwe, CEO of TISA.

"The health survey seems to indicate that a large number of people are being exposed to second-hand smoke in their private homes and it is here that the health survey emphasis on government education campaigns makes most sense."

"We do, however, question the extreme proposal for a total ban on public smoking when the existing regulations are acknowledged to be working well. Currently smoking in public places is permitted in designated areas only. It is important to note that the existing designated public smoking areas are for over-18s only, must have a separate indoor area with solid partitioning, a separate ventilation system and have a health warning publicly displayed.

"The existing regulations work and they uphold the basic rights of non-smokers and smokers fully. A total ban on public smoking would be unworkable and unenforceable in urban and rural South Africa."

Illicit tobacco still a concern

"We are also encouraged to read that the Minister of Health is acknowledging the enormous impact that illicit tobacco has on South Africa. We cannot, under any circumstances, begin to claim success in decreasing tobacco consumption, not until we manage to root out an illicit tobacco market that continues to flourish, in part, because of an increase in regulation and the failure to enforce existing regulations."

TISA is working with various government agencies such as SARS, SAPS and others, as well as with international bodies like Interpol to help rid the country of illicit tobacco.

Currently, between 28% and 30% of the total market is illicit, which equates to more than 1 million packs of 20s per day consumed by South Africans. Most illicit cigarettes are sold cheaply, which stimulates consumption and seriously undermines the department's health agenda. It requires urgent action by government as a whole.

"It's against this backdrop that one must assess the health survey claims that current government tobacco regulations are showing success and wonder why the Department of Health has seen fit to publish a raft of proposed new regulations rather than ensuring the current regulations are better enforced.

"Tougher regulations may undermine government's ability to enforce the law, but may also allow the illicit market to prosper, which only serves to undo all the good that the Department is aiming to achieve," concludes van der Merwe.