FITA wants gov's tobacco ban appeal to be reconsidered
The tobacco industry's urging the government to reconsider its plan to appeal a High Court ruling on the ban of cigarettes last year, during the hard lockdown.
Tobacco sales weren't allowed between March and August.
The government explained that this was because of the health impacts of smoking, as well as the risk of contamination between people sharing cigarettes.
But a full bench of judges ruled last month, that the ban was unconstitutional and unnecessary.
The Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association says the move by government to appeal the decision is concerning.
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FITA's Sinenhlanhla Mnguni says there are fears there could be more tobacco restrictions - if a harder lockdown's imposed.
"We feel that this step by government is regrettable given the irreparable harm on the tobacco industry on its value chain which was occasioned by the five-month-long ban on the sale of cigarettes and tobacco-related by the consumption of the local market. "
Mnguni adds that the ban has also led to the exponential and inundated growth of the illicit cigarette market which had a knock-on effect on the increased loss to the fiscus as less taxes are collected by the receiver.
