Association Presses on With Challenge Against South Africa’s Tobacco Ban
South Africa’s Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) announced on April 30 that it will still seek legal action to reverse the government’s decision to ban tobacco and vapor product sales despite the fact that sales were scheduled to resume May 1.
The government’s National Coronavirus Command Council, following expert consultation and public criticism, believed that keeping cigarettes, vapor products and other tobacco products off retail shelves would not be in the public interest.
According to South African Revenue Services, the sales ban that began March 26 following the initial country lockdown has led to cigarette excise tax losses of ZAR300 million ($16 million).