Advertisement

South African unit of Philip Morris welcomes tax stance on cigarette alternatives

IQOS heated tobacco products are seen on display as cigarette maker Philip Morris International launches its first flagship boutique store in Sandton

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The South African unit of cigarette maker Philip Morris International Inc <PM.N> welcomed the government's decision to introduce a lower excise tax on heated tobacco products than on regular cigarettes.

In his annual budget speech on Wednesday, Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni said, in line with Department of Health policy, his government will start taxing heated tobacco products such as hookah or "hubbly bubbly".

But he said the rate will be set at 75 per cent that of the tax on cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes, or so-called vapes, will only be taxed from 2021, Mboweni said.

Philip Morris' South Africa Managing Director, Marcelo Nico said on Thursday there was a growing body of evidence that regulating less harmful tobacco products differently to cigarettes can reduce smoking rates to the overall benefit of public health.

"By creating this differentiation, Minister Mboweni and his team recognize the role that taxation can play in encouraging adult smokers to switch to less harmful tobacco products," he said in an emailed statement.

In July, Philip Morris opened its first flagship store in Johannesburg in an attempt to boost demand for its "reduced risk" heated-tobacco device IQOS.

Rival British American tobacco <BATS.L> <BTIJ.J>, which is also striving for a bigger chunk of the global market for smoking alternatives as demand for traditional cigarettes continues to slide, recently acquired South African vapor maker Twisp.

Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) has raised concerns about the excise for electronic vapor products, saying it will considerably increase the retail price of these electronic products, while at the same time hurting small to medium business owners.

On Wednesday, the association, which represents manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of vapor products in South Africa, called for a moratorium period of three years to allow the electronic cigarettes industry to grow.

On Thursday, the association's chief executive Asanda Gcoyi said she was still concerned that the proposed legislation of tobacco and EVP will present a hindrance to the growth and opportunities the EVP industry is able to contribute to South Africa's economy.

Health concerns about vaping have grown despite evidence showing e-cigarettes help smokers to quit, and have led to bans in some countries including India and Brazil.

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)