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: 2025.   Page updated: 2025-04-07

South Africa does not have specific laws for Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs). However, they are categorized and regulated as tobacco products. While tobacco products can be sold, a license is required. Additionally, health warnings on packaging are mandatory, and the minimum age for purchase is 18 years. Tobacco products are prohibited from being used in public places, and their advertisement is banned by law. It is not clear whether tobacco products, including HTPs, are permitted to be imported for personal use. If you have firsthand experience or accurate information on this, please share it with the GSTHR team.

Product promotion

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. South Africa Summary. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/south-africa. Accessed: 18 March 2025.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed 1A A
2023 no specific law 1B
References:
  1. Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Heated Tobacco. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/heated-tobacco/countries?country=562. Accessed: 18 March 2025.
Comments:
  1. IQOS
Yes
1
2023
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Heated Tobacco. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/heated-tobacco/countries?country=562. Accessed: 18 March 2025.

Availability

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. South Africa Summary. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/south-africa. Accessed: 18 March 2025.
  2. Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system
Comments:
  1. There are pecific restrictions on tobacco products, including HTP
  2. IQOS

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Heated Tobacco. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/heated-tobacco/countries?country=562. Accessed: 18 March 2025.
  2. Tobacco Control Laws. South Africa Summary. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/south-africa. Accessed: 18 March 2025.
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.