South Africa: Treaty to Curb Illegal Cigarette Trade

Source from:  Eyewitness News 01/14/2013

The National Council Against Smoking said on Saturday, illegal cigarettes will be hard to come by now that South Africa has signed an anti-smuggling treaty.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi signed an international treaty against tobacco smuggling in Geneva on Thursday.
 
The treaty, signed by 11 countries including China, Panama and Turkey, aims to snuff out tobacco smuggling syndicates worldwide.
 
The director of the National Council Against Smoking Peter Ucko said he was happy with the treaty.
 
"The treaty enables the governments around the world to track and trace from manufacture to destination of tobacco products.
 
"Therefore revenue is increased, [we] stop smuggled cigarettes, [we] stop cheaper cigarettes and [we] get fewer children to smoke."
 
It was estimated last year that smuggled cigarettes made up about 30% of the tobacco market in South Africa. Enditem