The FF Plus asked Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health to refer the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill of 2022 back to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) as it has several flaws.
This Bill aims to set out stringent regulations for the use, packaging and advertising of tobacco products.
The FF Plus sent an official letter about it to the chairperson of the Committee, Dr Sibongiseni Maxwell Dhlomo. The Committee is currently considering the piece of legislation.
This follows Nedlac’s allegations in the media last month (6 September) that the Department of Health dealt contemptuously with business, labour and other social partners before the legislation was tabled to Parliament.
Nedlac alleged, among other things, that there had been no consultation before the Bill was drafted and insisted that the entire parliamentary process regarding the Bill should be stopped.
In its letter, the FF Plus points out to Dhlomo that the Department did not play open cards during its briefing of the Portfolio Committee on 4 September as the impression was created that business and labour sectors had indeed been consulted, which Nedlac now denies.
Considering this, the FF Plus requests that the parliamentary processes be put on ice until the Nedlac matter is resolved to avoid inevitable legal actions.
The legislation’s flaws were glaringly obvious during the session on 4 September when the FF Plus already warned that it is poorly thought-out and should be referred back to Nedlac.
The FF Plus received acknowledgement of receipt of its letter and will keep monitoring the situation.
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