Vapour Products Association Urges South Africa to Embrace Tobacco Harm Reduction in New Bill

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Cape Town – The Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) has submitted a comprehensive proposal to Parliament, urging a fundamental shift in the country’s approach to tobacco control by adopting a “Tobacco Harm Reduction” (THR) strategy. Their submission, in response to the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, argues that an abstinence-only model is outdated and ineffective, advocating instead for policies that differentiate between combustible tobacco and less harmful nicotine alternatives like vaping.

VPASA emphasizes that THR is a public health strategy focused on reducing the adverse health effects associated with smoking by encouraging smokers who cannot or will not quit nicotine entirely to switch to significantly less harmful products. The association points to the scientific consensus that “the vast majority of the harm from smoking comes from the combustion of tobacco, not from nicotine itself.”

Key arguments and proposals from VPASA include:

• Differentiating Risk: The submission highlights the clear scientific distinction in risk profiles between traditional cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or heated tobacco products (HTPs). VPASA cites numerous studies indicating that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, with some research suggesting it is 95% less harmful.
• Failed Abstinence-Only: VPASA contends that South Africa’s current tobacco control strategies, which largely focus on outright cessation, have stagnated, with smoking rates remaining stubbornly high at around 29% for adult males and 9% for females. They argue that an abstinence-only approach creates barriers for smokers seeking less harmful alternatives.
• Global Precedents: The association references successful harm reduction models in countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom, where the embrace of less harmful alternatives has correlated with significant declines in smoking rates. Sweden boasts the lowest smoking rates in the EU due to the widespread adoption of snus (a smoke-free tobacco product), while the UK has actively promoted vaping as a cessation tool.
• Addressing Misinformation: VPASA expresses concern over public misperceptions regarding the relative risks of vaping versus smoking, citing studies showing a high percentage of smokers incorrectly believing vaping is equally or more harmful. This misinformation, they argue, deters smokers from switching to less risky products.
• Youth Protection and Regulation: While advocating for THR, VPASA acknowledges the importance of protecting youth. They propose a regulatory framework that includes age restrictions, marketing controls, and product standards for nicotine alternatives to prevent youth uptake while ensuring adult smokers have access to safer options.
• Call for a Balanced Bill: VPASA urges the South African government to incorporate harm reduction principles into the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. They stress the need for regulation that is “proportionate to the risk” and encourages innovation in safer nicotine products, rather than treating all nicotine products uniformly.

The submission concludes by calling for a national tobacco harm reduction strategy, asserting that such an approach is vital for improving public health outcomes and reducing the burden of smoking-related diseases in South Africa.