21 Jun 2016
In Indonesia, for example, the president has announced increases in tobacco taxes and stronger measures for smoke-free public spaces as he considers if the country should become a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In response, front groups for the industry have begun recycling old arguments that such a move would kill the national cigarette industry and farmers’ livelihoods.
But as SEATCA and many others have noted, the tobacco industry is no friend to farmers.
In Malaysia, notes SEATCA – an FCA member – groups linked to the tobacco industry responded to signs that plain packaging could be imminent by trotting out the old argument that smuggling would rise as a result.
However, many countries have significantly increased tobacco taxes without experiencing changes in smuggling/illicit production. Other factors play a major role in smuggling.
Get involved
- Read more from SEATCA.
- Read about links between Big Tobacco and a global coalition opposing plain packaging
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