04 Aug 2021

Government is set to introduce new regulations on tobacco and its products.

Tabling the Tobacco Control Bill (Bill No.9 of 2021) in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the bill sought to protect people from tobacco smoke and declare individuals’ rights to a smoke free environment.

Dr Dikoloti said the bill also emphasised prohibition of smoking in public places to protect non-smokers from exposure to tobacco smoke and obligations to ensure compliance to such provision.

If adopted, selling of tobacco products that did not comply with packaging and labelling requirements would be prohibited. 

Health warnings and messages on tobacco products and packages would also be prescribed.

It would also prohibit sales of tobacco products to persons below the age of 21 and the seller would be required to display a signage indicating such. 

Also, those under the age of 21 would not be hired to sell tobacco products. Further, tobacco products would not be sold at self-service points such as vending machines.

The minister also indicated that the bill proposed that public bodies would not go into partnerships of any sort with the tobacco industry or accept any voluntary contributions or incentives by the industry.

Again, the Tobacco Control Committee would be established, use of tobacco by promoting the public’s right to know about the harmful effects of tobacco use would be deterred.

“It will also protect individuals from the risks of second hand smoking by prohibition of smoking in public places and impose stiffer penalties to deter tobacco advertising, promotion and any form of sponsorship,” the minister said.

Furthermore, he said package inserts detailing the products information would be a requirement, as prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Dr Dikoloti said it was also envisaged that the outcome of the bill would make the tobacco industry accountable for the health effects caused by tobacco exposure and use, as well as reduce smoking prevalence and associated ill-health.

“Botswana is affected by tobacco usage with the 2014 survey estimating a prevalence rate of tobacco use in adults at 18.3 per cent, translating to 31.4 per cent for males and 4.9 per cent females. The global adult tobacco survey conducted in 2017 revealed that the prevalence rate of tobacco use among adults aged 15 years and above in Botswana is 17.6 per cent,” he said.

Overall, he said, 14.2 per cent of adults aged 15 years and above were current tobacco smokers and 4.3 per cent of adults were current smokeless tobacco users. 

“The other notable factor revealed by the survey was on economics with the study indicating that the average monthly expenditure for cigarettes was P789.10. 

Among manufactured cigarette smokers, the average cost of a pack of 20 manufactured cigarettes was P105.50,” he added.

He also said having identified challenges associated with tobacco usage, government had come up with a bill to address such, with the object of the bill therefore being to repeal the Control of Smoking Act of 2004 (CSA 2004) and enact a law that would be compliant to as well as comprehensively address the articles of the WHO FCTC.

“The convention, which Botswana became a signatory to in 2003, aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption, and exposure to tobacco smoke,” said Minister Dikoloti. Ends