South Africa’s proposed Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, 2018, would overhaul the country’s tobacco laws with what Caxton Network News calls “radical changes.” The draft would introduce 100% smoke-free indoor public spaces, ban point-of-sale displays and vending machines, and bring e-cigarettes under strict regulation.

One of the most controversial measures appears to extend restrictions into private spaces, including homes and vehicles, through a clause tied to the Sectional Titles Act. The South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority raised enforcement concerns, but the clause was kept on the grounds of protecting workers’ constitutional rights.

The bill also mandates plain packaging for all tobacco products and would subject e-cigarettes and vapes to the same rules that govern combustible cigarettes. Industry requests to exempt vaping products from display bans, plain packaging and smoke-free rules were rejected.

Other measures include bans on single-stick sales, vending-machine sales and the public display of all tobacco and vaping products. After extensive public hearings earlier this year, the Department of Health was expected to present responses to submissions in November; the parliamentary committee rejected that document and pushed the meeting to early next year. The bill remains under consideration in the Portfolio Committee on Health.

This article was adapted from an original report published on tobaccoreporter.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.