Despite protests by e-cigarette companies, the South African Ministry of Finance and the Revenue Agency are still insisting on implementing the e-cigarette tax proposal, imposing a consumption tax of 2.91 South African rand (1 South African rand is about 0.39 yuan) per milliliter of e-cigarette liquid.
E-cigarette companies say that imposing high excise taxes on e-cigarette products will affect the trade of legitimate tax-paying suppliers and even lead to the unemployment of employees in the industry.
South Africa's finance ministry said the tax was necessary and legal and would help close regulatory loopholes.
Yang Linxi compiled from "Tobacco Industry Newsletter"