Proposed Amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill [B117D-98]: discussion

Meeting report

SOCIAL SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE
27 October 1998
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL [B117D-98]: DISCUSSION

Documents handed out:
Amendments agreed to by the Portfolio Committee on Health

SUMMARY
The technical amendments were read with very little discussion. Members were asked to submit their provinces' mandates on the proposed amendments by 6 November 1998.

MINUTES
Mr Mabope, official of the Department of Health, took the members through the amendments agreed to by the Portfolio Committee on Health. These amendments were mostly technical in nature.

The committee discussed the insertion of "aimed at the public" in clause 2, which would eliminate the confusion around whether an ordinary person could wear a T-shirt with a tobacco logo on it. Ms Mothoagae (ANC, North West) wanted to know how would one know whether a person wore the T-shirt for personal reasons or for advertising the tobacco product. Mr Mabope replied that when a company like Rothmans, for example, mass produced T-shirts for a Janet Jackson concert, then their motive would be advertising the product. It was not the Bill's intention to fine people who were wearing the T-shirt, rather to restrict the tobacco industry from advertising it's products.

Mr Mokotjo (NP, Free State) commented that there were still loopholes in the Bill. Mr Mabope said that by inserting the clause, "aimed at the public", loopholes would be minimised.

After clause 4 was read through, Mr Mokotjo remarked that there was a dilemma. On the one hand, smoking was a health risk but advertising tobacco-related products contributed to the country's economy. The Chairperson, Dr Cwele, responded by saying that the issue was discussed already and ruled him to be out of order.

With reference to the insertion of "exemptions for unintended consequences" in Clause 4, Ms Mothoagae commented that the reason given for the proposed amendment could allow printing to occur in neighbouring countries. Mr Mabope emphasised that it applied to publications with "unintended consequences".

No comments were made on the proposed amendments to Clause 9.

The meeting adjourned and would reconvene on Monday, 9 November 1998.