Tobacco Asia

14 tobaccoasia FRONT PAGE NEWS 卷首新闻 South Africa Considers Differentiated Tobacco Rules South Africa's health department has urged lawmakers to revise parts of a proposed tobacco control law to distinguish between combustible and non-combustible products, a change that could ease industry concerns about uniform regulation. Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Health is currently reviewing the draft Tobacco Products & Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which seeks to tighten restrictions on tobacco products and introduce rules for e-cigarettes and other next-generation nicotine devices for the first time. Companies that sell vaping products and heated tobacco devices have pushed for separate regulatory treatment, arguing that products heated rather than burned should face fewer restrictions. The country's vaping industry and Philip Morris International have argued that regulations should reflect the varying health risks of different products, with cigarettes subject to the strictest controls. During a parliamentary briefing in late February, Jeanette Hunter, deputy director-general for primary healthcare at the health department, told lawmakers that the health department is willing to differentiate between combustible and non-com- bustible products in areas such as plain packaging and labeling. The draft legislation proposes graphic health warnings and standardized packaging for all tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including e-cigarettes. The department also recommended adding a new provision addressing illicit cigarette trade. Hunter said the proposed clause would commit the health minister to support efforts to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco and related products through cooperation with other government agencies. She said the recommendation reflects an agreement reached last year at the National Economic Development and Labor Council. Industry representatives welcomed the proposed distinction but said broader differentiation remains necessary. South Africa's health authorities have pushed for tighter tobacco rules and regulation of next-generation nicotine products for nearly a decade, though lawmakers have only recently begun reviewing the enabling legislation. Members of parliament are expected to vote on the bill's desirability on March 11. If approved, lawmakers will begin detailed clause-by-clause deliberations. While some MPs have raised concerns about penalties and possible impacts on informal traders, they broadly support introducing regulations for e-cigarettes, which currently remain unregulated. PMI Returns to Zimbabwe Philip Morris International (PMI) is preparing to re-establish its presence in Zimbabwe nearly two decades after leaving the market, according to media reports citing official government correspondence. A company delegation led by Christos Harpantidis, PMI's chief corporate affairs officer, was sched- uled to visit the country on February 18. The visit follows a meeting between Zimbabwe's foreign affairs minister, Amon Murwira, and PMI leadership on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year. In a letter dated February 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade informed the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) of the planned visit. "I have the honor to advise the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) of the forthcoming visit to Zimbabwe by a delegation from PMI scheduled for February 18, 2016," the ministry said in the correspondence. "The delegation is expected to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and other relevant stakeholders to discuss matters pertaining to agricul- tural production, value addition, regulatory frameworks, investment opportunities, sustainability standards, and supply chain development, among others." Discussions were expected to focus on expanding value addition in Zimbabwe's tobacco sector, including efforts to strengthen local processing and manufacturing capacity to create jobs and retain more revenue domestically. The delega- tion was also to address sustainability and environmental, social, and governance standards, including labor practices and environmental protection. Industry sources said PMI has already quietly resumed activity in the country by purchasing processed tobacco through a local merchant. Zimbabwe's tobacco sector has expanded rapidly in recent years. The area planted for the 2025/2026 season has increased by 42%, as the government pursues its Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan aimed at developing the industry into a US$5 billion sector by 2030 through greater local manufacturing rather than exporting raw leaf. As Africa's largest tobacco producer, Zimbabwe exports about 90% of its crop in raw form. Industry observers say PMI's return could bring new investment, technology, and competition to the sector, which ranks as Zimbabwe's second-largest source of foreign currency after gold. The development also comes as China Tobacco International Group, Zimbabwe's largest tobacco buyer, plans to reduce its purchases by up to 15% as part of China's new economic plan and shifting consumer preferences toward "super slim" cigarettes that require less tobacco. Some industry analysts say the entry of another major buyer could help stabilize demand and prices for the country's approximately 120,000 smallholder tobacco farmers, although others warn that long-term prospects may face pressure from global anti-smoking campaigns and changing consumer habits. South Africa's health department urged lawmakers to revise elements of a proposed tobacco control bill to better differentiate between combustible and non-combustible products, particularly in provisions covering plain packaging and labeling. Credit: Saqi Jugno, Pexels.

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