No decision on cigarette import licenses yet

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) maintains that there is no change to the Government’s policy on tobacco control, despite the Finance Minister’s proposal to allow cigarette imports. NATA Chairman Dr. Palitha Abeykoon, told the Daily FT that he had held several discussions in this regard with the Health Minister and made several representations to the Treasury, whilst there has been no official response from the latter. However, no import licenses have been granted yet, the Chairman said.  Last month, the Minister of Finance sprung a surprise when he announced the Government was considering allowing cigarette imports to benefit expatriates – especially Chinese – an announcement that came ironically on World No Tobacco Day. With just 6,000 Chinese workers in the country, questions have been raised if it is prudent to relax tobacco imports into the country, given the potential resultant revenue loss due to growth in smuggling, which could top Rs. 20 billion.  Abeykoon added that import licenses are highly unwarranted at this point in time, when there was still room for further controls especially in the area of price. Incidentally, the Ministry of Health, NATA and the World Health Organization will host a program in Colombo next week on Tobacco and Lung Health to mark World No Tobacco Day.  In developed markets, governments are looking at less harmful alternatives and innovative new products as means for tobacco control or reducing smoking, whilst Sri Lanka is still looking at growing its cigarette market by allowing imports.