Profile
South Africa Flag
Cigarettes
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
South Africa Background
Profile
South Africa Flag
Cigarettes
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2022.   Page updated: 2025-06-04

In South Africa, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is allowed, and it is legal to use, sell, and purchase NRT products without a prescription. Although these products are not regulated as medicinal products, they are available in pharmacies. However, the government does not provide financial support to cover the cost of NRT, as it is not included on the country's essential drugs list.

Product promotion

3.30 million €
1
2019
0.50 €
1
2019
References:
  1. Consumer Health: Euromonitor from trade sources/national statistics. Date Exported: 8/9/2019. (c) Euromonitor International 2019

Regulation

References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-zaf.pdf?sfvrsn=1e264faf_3&download=true. Accessed: 6 May 2025.

Availability

Yes
1
2022
Yes
1
2022
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 Yes 1A
2022 Yes 1B
References:
  1. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2019. https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/ (2019).
  2. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-zaf.pdf?sfvrsn=1e264faf_3&download=true. Accessed: 6 May 2025.
Yes
2
2019
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 Pharmacy 1A
2022 Pharmacy 1B
References:
  1. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2019. https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/ (2019).
  2. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-zaf.pdf?sfvrsn=1e264faf_3&download=true. Accessed: 6 May 2025.
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-zaf.pdf?sfvrsn=1e264faf_3&download=true. Accessed: 6 May 2025.
  2. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2019. https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/ (2019).

Formal support

No NRT is not on the country's essential drugs list.
1 A
2022
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-zaf.pdf?sfvrsn=1e264faf_3&download=true. Accessed: 6 May 2025.
Comments:
  1. NRT cost is not covered by the government.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.