tobacco

Romanian government on Wednesday decided to hike tobacco excises by EUR7/1000 cigarettes to EUR57/1000 cigarettes as of April 1.

Romanian excise duties would be increased in the near future only for tobacco and alcohol, moving up the increase schedule agreed with the European Commission, minister of Finance Gheorghe Pogea said Thursday.

The first tobacco and alcohol excise duty hikes will take place on April 1, by EUR7/1,000 cigarettes, EUR11/ hl for fermented beverages and EUR13.96/hl for the rest of alcoholic beverages, Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Thursday.

Cigarette maker Japan Tobacco International (JTI) said the Romanian tobacco excise calendar has already been rushed with the introduction of the vice tax, and an early increase of the excise would spell 50% increases in cigarette prices and would put contraband in control of 30% of the market.

Romanian senators enacted Tuesday 45 to two votes and six abstentions the government ordinance banning advertising for tobacco products in written media, event halls and cinemas.

The committee for legal matters within the Romanian Senate decided Tuesday that cigarettes might be sold in stores located less than 50 meters away from schools and hospitals, while the ban on the sale of these products applies exclusively on the premises of the mentioned units.

Cigarette packs sold in Romania starting July 1 will have printed text warnings and a color photograph or illustration of the unhealthy effects of smoking, the Health Ministry said.