Designated smoking areas in indoor workplaces, public places, and public transport are allowed. You might be hazy on the latest antitobacco legislation, but its been passed and is steadily being. The countrys highest court found that countrys laws on drugs and medicine went against the constitutions right to privacy and the personal use of dagga, as its known in south africa. Pdf the aim of this paper is to briefly describe south africas experience in tobacco. Tobacco regulation in south africa was not an overnight onestep measure, but rather. What to expect from new smoking laws in south africa.
New smoking laws set to extinguish vaping in south africa. Subnational jurisdictions can enact smoke free laws that are more stringent than the national law. South africa legalizes smoking marijuana dagga quartz africa. In compliance with this law and its regulations, it is the policy of the municipality that smoking is prohibited in all public areas, including all workplaces. Fifthly, tobacco control legislation, particularly laws banning smoking in. The reason that there are south african laws that ban smokers from smoking in certain areas is because secondhand smoking affects nonsmokers. Tobacco control legislation wntd may2015 cansa the. Amended by general law fifth amendment act 157 of 1993. Smoking is however, permissible in areas designated as smoking areas by the municipality at its discretion.
South africa became a party to the who framework convention on tobacco control on july 18, 2005. Tobacco products control act south african government. Health24 is south africas premier health information website. Tobacco smoking among south africans is quite a customary practice, but, in recent years, the. New proposals for changes to south africas smoking laws will be presented within the next two weeks, according to department of health directorgeneral, precious matsoso. Constitution means the constitution of the republic of south africa. The latest antismoking laws will be rigorously enforced. South africas proposed new tobacco laws will tighten the grip on how cigarettes and other tobacco products are sold, marketed and regulated. The department of health has officially released its draft tobacco bill for public comment among other proposals, the draft bill plans to ban smoking in certain public spaces and significantly clamp down on what advertising may be used to promote tobacco products. Download ghd012 tobacco control in south africa global health. New smoking laws in south africa might seek to protect both smokers and nonsmokers, but some organisations believe new legislation will result in a spike in criminal activity and millions of. Pdf on jan 1, 2010, jd mujuzi and others published smoking in the workplace in south africa. For workplaces and specified public places, up to 25 percent of floor space may be set aside for smoking.
The policy is that there is no smoking allowed inside the airport as in all public places in south africa and smoking is only allowed outside. In 2005, we compromised and allowed smoking in 25 percent of public spaces but we are going to take that space. Dr aaron motsoaledi indicated that government wanted to introduce the new regulations but admitted on wednesday that south africa had lagged behind. In order to combat the dangers of smoking, legislation has been increasingly put into place in order to deter the public from smoking. Smoking in public places r975 of 2000 tar and nicotine content r974 of 2000 point of sale of tobacco products r976 of 2000 labelling, advertising and sale of tobacco products r1148. Successful tobacco legislation in south africa who african region. The control of tobacco and electronic delivery systems bill is set to pull the plug on ecigarettes and vapes in south africa. Subnational jurisdictions do not have the authority to adopt laws that ban tobacco smoking in any or all of the places mentioned above. Understanding the restrictions placed on private property if youre a smoker and choose to light up in the comfort of your own home you may soon face fines or imprisonment. Tobacco products control act 83 of 1993 south african government. Any smoker found smoking in a non smoking zonearea will be fined r500.