Smoking ban for under-18s?
2008-03-10 17:26
Cape Town - Legislation intended to stub out remaining loopholes in tobacco control legislation has been tabled in Parliament.
The draft tobacco products control amendment bill seeks to bring South African law into line with the World Health Organisation's tobacco control convention by banning sales to children under the age of 18.
The current age is 16.
The bill also seeks to ban selling or supplying any confectionery or toy resembling or representing any tobacco product.
It will tighten up on advertising, sponsorship, promotion, and distribution, and on information required in packaging and labelling of tobacco products.
In terms of the bill, it will be illegal to advertise or promote a tobacco product through sponsorship of any organisation, event, service, physical establishment, programme, project, bursary, scholarship or any other method.
A manufacturer or importer of a tobacco product will not be able to make any charitable financial contribution or sponsorship unless it is made anonymously.
False, misleading or deceptive labelling of tobacco products will also be outlawed.
Sales of tobacco products will be banned in any health establishment, including pharmacies, and any place where a person under the age of 18 years receives education or training.
In addition, no person will be able to sell, offer to sell, supply, distribute or buy any tobacco product by post, the internet or any other electronic media.
It will be an offence to distribute or supply any tobacco product for free or at a reduced price, other than a normal trade discount.
- SAPA