Another African Country Announces 'E-Cigarettes Are Legal'!?

African countries to thee-cigarettesWith the development of laws and regulations, this situation may gradually be incorporated into supervision and legal management.

The "New Force of Atomization" learned thatAfrica's major country "South Africa" has announced that it will include regulation and tax e-cigarettesThis may be the official formation after South Africa has been hoping to legalize the draft regulation of e-cigarettes in 2018,#p#paginated title #e#Entering the legislative supervision stage.

What are the highlights?

1. South Africa plans to tax e-cigarettes and strengthen supervision.

According to reports, South Africa's health department announced that public consultation on the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes Act will end on July 28. The initial submission deadline for the public consultation is June 21 to August 4, 2023. The bill aims to regulate traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Currently in South Africa, e-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular as a smoking cessation method and consumer-grade nicotine product.

Once the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes Act is passed, it means that South Africa will tax and regulate e-cigarettes.

Moreover, the bill will focus on legislation on nicotine and non-nicotine e-cigarettes.

At the same time, I also learned that South Africa has actually started to list the #p#pagination title #e#since June 2023.e-cigarette productsImpose consumption tax. According to the official website of the South African National Revenue Agency (SARS), the country's Finance Minister said that starting from June 1, South Africa will impose a consumption tax on e-cigarette products. According to its tax collection standard, a tax of 2.9 South African rand (1 South African rand is approximately 0.38 yuan) will be levied per milliliter of e-cigarette liquid.

2. Packaging requirements.

According to the bill, South Africa will introduce standard requirements with graphic health warning signs and concise packaging for e-cigarettes.

3. Restrictions on sales.

South Africa's plan states that it will completely ban the display of e-cigarettes at points of sale and establish 100% smoke-free public areas.

4. Vending machines are completely prohibited from selling e-cigarettes.

However, strong regulation of e-cigarettes in South Africa is not very welcome. Many stakeholders have expressed concerns about the ripple effects that the new bill may cause because the tobacco industry is currently a key engine of South Africa's economic growth. Lawmakers said the bill could lead to more people turning to the illegal tobacco black market and cause people involved to lose their jobs.

Asanda Gcoyi, CEO of the South African Electronic Cigarette Products Association (VPARA), said the South African government is now trying to "demonize" e-cigarettes as a more damaging product than traditional cigarettes.# p#pagination title #e#The new bill not only regulates e-cigarettes, but also includes them in the tax scope of tobacco products.

A special consumption tax will have an impact on e-cigarette retail.e-cigarette companiesBarry Buchman, managing director of Vaperite, said levying a excise tax on e-cigarette products has had a negative impact on retailers, and many believe it will lead consumers to turn to the black market.

Let more people buy e-cigarettessmoke oil？Relevant people in South Africa believe that this tax policy encourages consumers to purchase e-cigarette oil with the highest nicotine content and the most addictive. Because this is a more favorable option.

South Africa,The southernmost tip of the African continent.

#p#Pagination Title #e#

(Location in South Africa)

With a population of 59 million,The number of smokers is huge.According to the survey results, there are a large number of adult smokers, with 25.8% of South Africa's population (11.1 million adults) currently smoking. Nowadays, disposable e-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular in South Africa.

The annual growth rate of e-cigarettes is above 10%. There are at least 400,000 e-cigarette users. Most independent e-cigarette retailers in South Africa are currently positive about the future market.

In terms of salary incomeIn fact, the average wage in South Africa is not low, with an average monthly salary of US$2026 (more than 10,000 yuan), second only to Morocco in Africa. Higher than Tunisia, Kenya and Algeria. However, South Africa is a country with a clear gap between rich and poor and income inequality.# p#pagination title #e#

(South African wages)

overallCurrently, e-cigarettes are not regulated in South Africa and can also be sold. However, e-cigarettes are not protected by the Tobacco Products Control Act or the Drug Act. In 2018, the South African government proposed the Tobacco Products Control and Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Act, hoping to manage vapor products in a similar way to cigarettes. At that time, it was proposed to solicit public opinion, but it is still in draft form.

Now it seems that this new plan will be adopted and implemented soon, resulting in the regulation of cigarettes,There is also a trend of tax collection, which is worthy of attention! Of course, this will also be another African country after Egypt announced that e-cigarettes will be legal and have a regulatory system!