The cabinet has decided to remove the 30% bonus, rebated on import duty at regional ports, on all tobacco products. The decision was made following discussions at today’s meeting, on a paper presented by the Ministry of Health and Family.
At today’s meeting, members noted that a research conducted by the WHO and World Bank, shows that increasing the market price of tobacco products was the most important action taken in controlling tobacco use.
Members of the cabinet also agreed that, to minimise the number of tobacco users in the country, tax taken on tobacco products should be increased. They also said that the efforts put in to control tobacco need to be shielded from the influence of the tobacco industry.