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** 15 August 2024
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** UK
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** Thousands of illicit cigarettes seized (#1)
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** International
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** New smoking laws for South Africa are back (#2)
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** UK
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** Thousands of illicit cigarettes seized

More than 10,000 illicit cigarettes have been seized from three shops in East Yorkshire.

Officers from East Riding of Yorkshire Council's trading standards team raided stores in Beverley, Hornsea and Driffield.

As well as cigarettes, 6kg (13lbs) of hand rolled tobacco and a "substantial number" of illegal vapes were also seized.

Councillor Leo Hammond, cabinet member for planning, communities and public protection, said illegal tobacco is "often part of wider criminality" and those buying it were "supporting organised crime".

He added: "I’m very grateful for the hard work of the officers in this case and I urge any residents concerned about illicit tobacco to report it immediately."

The authority said the raids - part of Operation CeCe, a nationwide initiative aimed at disrupting the sale and distribution of illegal tobacco - took place on 29 July.

Those found guilty of selling illicit tobacco can face penalties of up to £10,000, a seizure of any tobacco products, a removal of the right to sell tobacco, or a prison sentence.

Source: BBC news, 15 August 2024
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** International
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** New smoking laws for South Africa are back

After lapsing at the end of the previous administration, the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill has been revived by Parliament for further processing.

Now sitting in Parliament and on the agenda of the seventh administration, the Bill was first introduced in the National Assembly back in December 2022.

According to the Bill, it intends to “strengthen public health protection measures’ by aligning prevailing tobacco control legislation with World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control imperatives.

It is proposed legislation that will regulate the sale, advertising, and use of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems.

Among other things, it seeks to:

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** Impose stricter product and related product processing, manufacturing and import standards
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** Regulate tobacco product and electronic delivery system advertising;
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** Standardise the ‘packaging and appearance’ of tobacco and electronic delivery system products;
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** Prohibit smoking in all indoor public places as well as ‘certain outdoor areas’
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** Ban cigarette vending machines;
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** Make ‘plain packaging with graphic health warnings and pictorials’ mandatory; and
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** Ban the display of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems at points-of-sale.
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**
Dr Sharon Nyatsanza of the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS) said that the legislation represents a significant step towards promoting a healthier society.

“Strong tobacco control policy is central to reducing South Africa’s heavy burden of non-communicable diseases and will support sustainable implementation of [the] National Health Insurance,” by bringing domestic legislation closer to global standards, said Nyatsanza.

She added that the measures in the Bill “are set to reduce tobacco use, exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke as well as the initiation of tobacco use by young people.”

Source: BusinessTech, 13 August 2024
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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