Windhoek: Namibia is seeking to strengthen its tobacco control legislation to address the growing availability of electronic cigarettes, vapes, shisha, heated tobacco products, and other emerging nicotine products, particularly among young people. The proposed amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act No. 1 of 2010 are intended to close gaps in the existing law and strengthen controls on the manufacture, importation, sale, advertising, promotion, and distribution of tobacco and nicotine products.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the proposals were presented during a public consultation in Swakopmund on Monday. Presenting the proposed amendments, Acting Director for Primary Health Care Services in the Ministry of Health and Social Services Dr. Christopher Likando stated the review is necessary as the existing legislation is almost 16 years old and does not adequately address new products and methods of marketing and distribution. "The tobacco and nicotine environment has changed considerably since the enactment of the Tobacco Products Control Act in 2010. We are no longer dealing solely with conventional cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products, we are also witnessing the increasing availability and visibility of electronic cigarettes, vaping products, heated tobacco products and shisha," Likando said.
The amendments seek to establish a more comprehensive regulatory framework, including provisions for emerging products, online sales and advertising, product tracking, packaging, and labelling. The proposed amendments include a definition of prohibited products, which would prevent specified products from being manufactured, imported, exported, stored, transported, distributed, supplied, sold, advertised, promoted, or sponsored.
The proposals also aim to regulate online advertising and sales of tobacco and nicotine products and introduce measures to strengthen tracking of products from manufacturers through the supply chain. Erongo Governor Natalia /Goagoses emphasized that effective tobacco control requires cooperation between the government, businesses, law enforcement, schools, traditional authorities, families, and communities. She expressed concern about the exposure of children to tobacco and nicotine products, noting that nearly 90% of daily smokers reportedly first experiment with tobacco before the age of 18. "This is not about blaming one sector, it is about shared responsibility. If we know where these products are being sold to children, we must work together to stop it," the governor expressed.
Stakeholders also called for tobacco retailers to be licensed to improve accountability and enforcement, while another participant proposed that possession of prohibited products should be addressed in the amended legislation.