Trade union federation Cosatu has called on MPs to amend the Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill to include tough new measures to counter South Africas soaring trade in illicit cigarettes.
Parliaments health portfolio committee voted in support of the desirability of the bill last week, paving the way for MPs to begin line-by-line deliberation of the draft legislation. MPs from across the political spectrum expressed dissatisfaction with the bill, suggesting an array of amendments are set for discussion.
Cosatu said it was beyond disappointing that the health department had failed to include provisions in the bill to empower the state to tackle the illicit trade in cigarettes by requiring the tracking and tracing of tobacco and related products.
