Head of consumer watchdog calls on authorities to scrutinize local tobacco products market
11.07.2016,
17:11
Head of an Armenian consumer watchdog has called on the authorities today to scrutinize the local tobacco products market, describing it as one of the most risky markets.
YEREVAN, 11 July. /ARKA. Head of an Armenian consumer watchdog has called on the authorities today to scrutinize the local tobacco products market, describing it as one of the most risky markets.
Speaking at a news conference, Babken Pipoyan, head of “Informed and Protected Consumers" NGO, argued that this market is not being supervised, despite the existence of a related legislation.
Noting that the prices of cigarettes have risen by about 20-60 drams of late, Pipoyan said the hike in excise duties on cigarettes is meant exclusively to replenish the state budget, and not to improve the situation in health care or reduce the number of smokers.
Under a law adopted by the National Assembly of Armenia in September 2015, excise taxes on vodka and cigarettes were to rise form May 1, 2016 to make them to comply with excise rates effective across the Eurasian Economic Union.
'We talk much about the fight against smoking, but essentially do nothing in this direction. Cigarettes are actively advertised in stores, which conduct various promotion events and there is also outdoor advertising of cigarettes,' he said.
In this regard, he said price increase is the last resort, and the fight against smoking is to start with curtailing advertising and the availability of cigarettes.
According to the National Institutes of Health, Armenia is one of the countries with a high prevalence of smoking among men. Research shows that the number of male smokers in Armenia ages 16 and higher is 53%. -0-
Speaking at a news conference, Babken Pipoyan, head of “Informed and Protected Consumers" NGO, argued that this market is not being supervised, despite the existence of a related legislation.
Noting that the prices of cigarettes have risen by about 20-60 drams of late, Pipoyan said the hike in excise duties on cigarettes is meant exclusively to replenish the state budget, and not to improve the situation in health care or reduce the number of smokers.
Under a law adopted by the National Assembly of Armenia in September 2015, excise taxes on vodka and cigarettes were to rise form May 1, 2016 to make them to comply with excise rates effective across the Eurasian Economic Union.
'We talk much about the fight against smoking, but essentially do nothing in this direction. Cigarettes are actively advertised in stores, which conduct various promotion events and there is also outdoor advertising of cigarettes,' he said.
In this regard, he said price increase is the last resort, and the fight against smoking is to start with curtailing advertising and the availability of cigarettes.
According to the National Institutes of Health, Armenia is one of the countries with a high prevalence of smoking among men. Research shows that the number of male smokers in Armenia ages 16 and higher is 53%. -0-
