Increased Excise Tax Aids Tobacco Smugglers – BAT

Source from:  Ventures Africa  03/26/2014

Extreme "excise increases" on tobacco products is creating perfect conditions for cigarette fraudsters and smugglers to flourish, JSE-listed cigarette maker, the British American Tobacco (BAT), warned on Monday.

But Nicandro Durante, the CEO of BAT, said the company is committed to talking directly on regulatory matters and work with international partners to put a halt to the unlawful tobacco trade.

He also said the company backed healthy regulations boosted by strong proof and detailed research aimed at helping get the plan of tobacco harm reduction working.

"Our scientific research into harm reduction, for instance, is helping us develop next-generation tobacco products, such as heat-not-burn, and nicotine products, like e-cigarettes," Durante said in the company's latest annual report.

He added that the company has the skills and global spread to get ahead. BAT has operations in Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Morocco. It also has operations in the Middle East, Europe and the Ame ricas. Enditem