No cheap cigarettes beginning Jan 1
Published: Dec 27, 2009 12:43 PM | Updated: Dec 27, 2009 12:48 PM
Beginning Jan 1, the 20-pack of cigarettes will be sold at RM6.40 when the Health Ministry enforced the minimum cigarette price through the Control of Tobacco Products Regulation (Amendment) (No.2) 2009 that was gazetted.
Beginning Jan 1, the 20-pack of cigarettes will be sold at RM6.40 when the Health Ministry enforced the minimum cigarette price through the Control of Tobacco Products Regulation (Amendment) (No.2) 2009 that was gazetted.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the enforcement was for all cigarettes in the country to be sold not less than the price set, that is RM0.32 for each cigarette.
"This makes the minimum price of each packet that contains 20 cigarettes to be RM6.40, a 21-cigarettes pack to be RM6.70, 22-pack (RM7.05), 23-pack (RM7.35), 24-pack (RM7.70) and RM8 for a 25-pack," he said in a statement today.
He said those flouting any matters under the regulation can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed for two years or both.
Liow said with the enforcement of the regulation all cigarette companies were required to declare their retail prices to the ministry before Jan 15.
He said all cigarettes in the local market had to be sold not less than the minimum price and that the price had to be displayed clearly at the sale counter without logo, brand, business sign, or any description of the cigarette being sold.
Liow also said the sale of cigarettes at a lower price was prohibited but that cigarette companies were allowed to make price adjustments for three times a year and the differences cannot be more than five percent.
No ‘discount’ and ‘special price’ allowed
According to him, the regulation also prohibits sale using the words "discount, special price, special offer, promotion, promo, special edition and offer" or other words that meant discount or cheap sale compared to the price on the pack, or of the label, or at the point of sale.
Liow said the regulation was being enforced to reduce the buying of cigarettes, especially by children, teenagers and low-income persons, besides curbing cigarette promotion through big discounts.
"To protect the interests of young children and teenagers from tobacco addiction and the possibility of drug abuse and chronic diseases, the government is committed to reducing the accessibility and ability to buy cigarettes," he said.
Liow said many studies, both in the country and abroad, proved that raising taxes and prices of cigarettes reduced smoking especailly among children, teenagers and low-income persons.
"A study made in 2004 in Malaysia revealed that a price hike of 10 percent of cigarettes reduced smoking by 3.8 per cent," he said.
- Bernama
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the enforcement was for all cigarettes in the country to be sold not less than the price set, that is RM0.32 for each cigarette.
"This makes the minimum price of each packet that contains 20 cigarettes to be RM6.40, a 21-cigarettes pack to be RM6.70, 22-pack (RM7.05), 23-pack (RM7.35), 24-pack (RM7.70) and RM8 for a 25-pack," he said in a statement today.
He said those flouting any matters under the regulation can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed for two years or both. Liow said with the enforcement of the regulation all cigarette companies were required to declare their retail prices to the ministry before Jan 15.
He said all cigarettes in the local market had to be sold not less than the minimum price and that the price had to be displayed clearly at the sale counter without logo, brand, business sign, or any description of the cigarette being sold.
Liow also said the sale of cigarettes at a lower price was prohibited but that cigarette companies were allowed to make price adjustments for three times a year and the differences cannot be more than five percent.
No ‘discount’ and ‘special price’ allowed
According to him, the regulation also prohibits sale using the words "discount, special price, special offer, promotion, promo, special edition and offer" or other words that meant discount or cheap sale compared to the price on the pack, or of the label, or at the point of sale.
Liow said the regulation was being enforced to reduce the buying of cigarettes, especially by children, teenagers and low-income persons, besides curbing cigarette promotion through big discounts.
"To protect the interests of young children and teenagers from tobacco addiction and the possibility of drug abuse and chronic diseases, the government is committed to reducing the accessibility and ability to buy cigarettes," he said.
Liow said many studies, both in the country and abroad, proved that raising taxes and prices of cigarettes reduced smoking especailly among children, teenagers and low-income persons.
"A study made in 2004 in Malaysia revealed that a price hike of 10 percent of cigarettes reduced smoking by 3.8 per cent," he said.
- Bernama
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