The step, supported by all political parties, will prohibit the sale of tobacco products in health and education institutions, increase the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18, and restrict the sale of tobacco products from vending machines.
It will make advertising, promotion and sponsorships by tobacco industries illegal unless they are made anonymously.
The legislation will force manufacturers to display ghastly images of people suffering from smoking-related diseases to create public awareness on the dangers of smoking.
The measure, which the Tobacco Institute of SA (Tisa) had warned would have a crippling financial effect on the industry, will now be forwarded to the National Council of Provinces for consideration. – (Sapa)
Read more:
Smoking law gets teeth
Stop Smoking Centre
June 2008