What's the difference between vaping and smoking?

Public Sector Leaders asks Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) Chief Executive Officer, Asanda Gcoyi, about her thoughts on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill.

Why do you believe it’s important to make a distinction between smoking and vaping?

The distinction between smoking and vaping is critical because the two are not the same. Smoking from combustible cigarettes releases thousands of toxins and chemicals, which are poisonous. Almost 70 of them cause cancer and other serious illnesses, including lung disease, heart disease, and stroke. Unlike vaping which exposes users to fewer toxins, and does not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful substances in tobacco smoke. The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill which is currently awaiting formal tabling in parliament treats vaping and smoking as one which causes misinformation about these two products. The distinction is important because smoking delivers nicotine by burning tobacco, which can cause smoking-related illnesses while vaping delivers nicotine by heating a liquid in a much less harmful way and the user has the choice to decide on the nicotine strength. It is this very important distinction that should form the basis of a scientifically sound, risk differentiation approach to regulation for the vaping industry.

Why do you believe cooperation between the private and public sectors on the bill is so important?

The private and public sectors should collaborate in finding new ways to reduce the harm caused by combustible cigarettes, contribute to local scientific data, and make sure that public health resources and funds are effectively used where they are needed the most. We believe that building strong public-private collaborations will lead to public health gains and job creation which will boost the economy. We have a collective responsibility to share correct information about vaping and other less harmful alternatives to smoking so that smokers can make informed decisions for their health.

What recommendations do you have for regulators?

Our recommendation as the industry is that all regulations should be inclusive and clear in the Bill and that the Minister should not be given the power to unilaterally set regulations for the industry, especially the vaping industry which is globally evolving. The industry recommends that vaping be made part of South Africa's public health harm reduction agenda by introducing policies that address the country’s multiple socio-economic imbalances starting with fair vaping industry regulations and acknowledging vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes. Research indicates that vaping is set to play a critical role in defining harm reduction policies and South African regulators need to take harm reduction seriously as part of addressing its contentious issues including fighting non-communicable diseases, poverty, and job creation.

What can be done to educate people on the harm reduction which vaping products offer?

To adopt a national education and awareness strategy that is based on facts and is inclusive of all stakeholders. The current proposal in the Bill prohibits educational awareness campaigns to inform consumers about related and relevant vapour products including campaigns that are aimed at preventing youth access to vaping products. The only way to educate people on harm-reduced alternative products is to communicate with adult consumers about vaping and vaping products. This should be a collaborative effort with the government in designing messages that would appeal to adult consumers, discourage them from smoking, and encourage the use of lesser harmful alternatives for those who are addicted to nicotine and are unable to quit by themselves. We have seen global success when governments collaborate with the industry to drive education and awareness. The UK is a case in point. Just recently, the UK government announced that they will offer 1 million people the chance to ‘drop their cigarettes and pick up a vape’ to help more people quit smoking.

Where do you see the vaping industry going in South Africa?

The global vaping market is expected to boom soon between 2023 – 2029, according to market research. South Africa is catching up on this global phenomenon. South Africa's vaping industry continues to grow driven by product innovation, improved affordability, and better accessibility of vapour products on the back of increased online vendors and the entrance of new retailers in the market. According to Oxford Economics Africa, counting the direct, indirect, and induced channels of impact, the vaping industry supported an estimated R3.1-billion GVA contribution to South Africa's GDP in 2021 and supported 10 510 jobs. We expect that as VPASA continues to professionalise the industry as well as have a regulatory framework in place. The industry will displace tobacco and continue to provide information to smokers about less harmful alternatives to help them quit their deadly habit.