Mozambique’s parliament has passed a comprehensive tobacco control law imposing stricter limits on the sale, advertising and use of tobacco and nicotine products, in a move officials describe as a significant step toward reducing tobacco-related diseases.
Legislation Overview
Adopted by consensus, the legislation broadens regulatory oversight to cover electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, vapour products and other emerging nicotine delivery systems, reflecting the changing landscape of tobacco consumption.
Alignment with International Treaties
The new law aligns the country with the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first global public health treaty, which came into force in 2005. The treaty obliges member states to implement measures that reduce tobacco use and protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Public Health Implications
Authorities say the legislation reinforces Mozambique’s capacity to meet these obligations by creating a more robust legal framework for smoke-free environments, product restrictions and broader public health protections.
Government Response
Presenting the bill, Justice Minister Mateus Saíze described tobacco use as one of the country’s most pressing health challenges, linking it to cancers, congenital disorders, premature births and other chronic conditions.
He cautioned that smokeless tobacco products, often promoted as safer alternatives, can be equally or more harmful than smoked variants, contributing to cancers of the mouth, oesophagus and pancreas.
Tobacco-Related Illnesses and Economic Burden
According to government data, tobacco-related illnesses claim about 9,400 lives annually in Mozambique, accounting for 3.5 percent of total deaths, with the majority occurring among individuals under the age of 70.
Saíze added that beyond its health implications, tobacco use also places a heavy economic burden on the country, costing an estimated 11.7 billion meticais (approximately $182 million) each year — about 1.3 percent of gross domestic product — due to healthcare expenses and productivity losses linked to illness and premature deaths.
