Following the landmark decision made in Australia recently, South Africa is looking to implement a similar strategy of reducing cigarette packets to nothing more than a box with text. This is part of government’s new plan to bring South Africa’s smoking regulations in line with “international best practice.”

Testing for the new plain packaged cigarettes is set to roll out in the Western Cape and Gauteng, with reports on the results to be filed by the end of the year. Government is also looking at “pictorial” branding, providing visual feedback on the health dangers of smoking.

Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, is also looking to bring changes to the Tobacco Products Control Act, imposing harsher restrictions on those that need to light up. Speaking to Eyewitness News earlier today, he defended these restrictions despite backlash from MP’s who claim there is no rationale behind them:

If what I read is true, I think they were displaying their absolute ignorance of issues because the regulations we have issued are proposed and conformed to best practices recommended by the guidelines of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and World Health Organisation.

The proposed new restrictions will make it illegal to smoke inside any building (no more designated smoking areas), any public venue, or to smoke on any public or private beach.

[Source: EWN; News24]