On Tuesday 13 December the Smoke-Free Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill, which will create an entire smoke-free generation, was passed into law in the island country.
In response to the move, Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall said on the official government website beehive.gov.za: “This legislation accelerates progress towards a smoke-free future. Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $ 5 billion better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations”.
“The three main changes are reducing the amount of nicotine that is allowed in smoked tobacco products, decreasing the numbers of retailers that sell tobacco, and making sure tobacco isn’t sold at all to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009”.
“It means nicotine will be reduced to non-addictive levels and communities will be free from the proliferation and clustering of retailers who target and sell tobacco products in certain areas”.
“We’ve done well as a country to get to this point, but there is more to do. That’s why the legislation passed today is so important, it puts us firmly on the path to Smokefree 2025”.
What a milestone! Changes to smokefree legislation are game-changing and have been decades in the making. Our next generation won't experience the harms of tobacco thanks to these tireless advocates. @hapaitehauora @ASPIRE2025 @otago @NZCancerSo @hapai_tc @hapai_tc pic.twitter.com/0f1fOnmXl3
— Health Coalition Aotearoa (@HealthCoA) December 13, 2022
