Question NW64 to the Minister of Health
23 February 2024 - NW64
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With reference to the Tenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that is taking place in Panama from 5 to 10 February 2024, (a) what is the Government’s latest position and/or mandate of the delegations in relation to the COP agenda and (b) which policy and/or other legislative document supports and/or informs the specified mandate; (2) (a) what is each delegation’s mandate on (i) combustible cigarettes, (ii) non-combustible nicotine products and (iii) harm-reduction policies, technologies and evidence-led scientific findings and (b) which policy and/or other legislative document supports and/or informs the mandate in each case?
Reply:
(1) (a) The delegates are mandated to advance the interests of South Africa and of the Continent with regard to aspects that promote public health in relation to the control of tobacco and related products.
(b) South Africa is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is a Global public health treaty which informs South Africa’s mandate in this regard.
(2) (a) Mandate on:
(i) combustible cigarettes
To ensure decisions made at COP will protect public health, reduce demand and supply and protect vulnerable groups and non-smokers and to identify new risk based on available scientific evidence.
(ii) non-combustible nicotine products
South Africa supports agenda items and decisions aimed at protecting public health. Our main objective to protect public health, reduce demand and supply and protect vulnerable groups and non-smokers against the harm caused by nicotine and to identify new risk based on available scientific evidence.
(iii) harm-reduction policies, technologies, and evidence led scientific findings
The Department of Health is not in support of the proposed promotion of harm reduction strategies and technologies, since what is proposed by the tobacco industry in this regard remain harmful to the public. The unregulated and uncontrolled use of nicotine poses a health risk and therefore, the Department is committed to the regulation of all tobacco and related products. The objective at all times is to promote public health and protect the vulnerable groups against the harm posed by the tobacco and related products.
(b) South Africa, in our pursuit to regulate all tobacco and related products, is guided by local and global studies that have provided significant evidence about the harm caused by both combustible and non-combustible tobacco and related products. These include the emerging products flooding the market worldwide.
END.