E-cigarettes in Africa

Egypt: The president’s health adviser, Mohamed Tag-Eldin, has told TV viewers that e-cigarettes are not good alternatives to smoking, as they can have serious side effects such as poisoning, lung damage and nerve inflammation.

Egypt: The Ministry of Health has issued a warning against the use of e-cigarettes, saying that the argument that they are less harmful than combustibles cigarettes is “completely untrue”. It adds that e-cigarettes contain “a huge amount” of nicotine and harmful toxins that can cause chronic diseases, damage the respiratory and digestive systems, and cause cardiovascular disease.

South Africa: The Advertising Regulatory Board has added an appendix to its industry-owned Code of Advertising Practice to include vaping devices and e-liquids, both with and without nicotine. Among other things, it suggests advertisements should not be targeted at under-18s, should include a health warning, and should use the phrase “safer than” in comparison with combustible tobacco.