Tobacco.org

Smoking: Companies to cough up 

"Healthy lifestyles" is to be the health department's key strategic message this year, and as part of its campaign the government is pressing forward with its bill to amend the tobacco products control law.

Parliament's portfolio committee on health will hold two days of hearings this week on Wednesday and Thursday on the new proposals. The bill will strengthen sections of the original act that prohibit advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and the regulation of smoking in public places.

"The bill increases the penalties so that they become a real deterrent," health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said at a media briefing in parliament on Monday. "The fine for the owner of a public place or employer who fails to ensure that there is no smoking in a smoke-free area has been increased from R10 000 to R50 000."

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