SA to tighten Tobacco Act

Addressing a Social Cluster briefing on Monday, Health Minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang said amending the Bill was part of the Department of Health's "healthy lifestyles" campaign, which seeks to encourage South Africans to adopt and practice healthy lifestyles as part of decreasing the burden of disease facing the country.

 The hearings, which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, seek to amend the Act to be in line with the international standards set in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The amendment Bill she said included "strengthening sections which prohibit advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and the regulation of smoking in public places."