Price of cigarettes to go up 35%
As of March 2009, the price of cigarettes will go up by 35 percent, Dnevnik daily cited sources of the tobacco producers as saying.
The government has already sent written requests for raising the price of cigarettes to the producers, explaining that the move is aimed at harmonization with the standards and guidelines of the European Union.
High-ranking government sources confirmed to the paper that introduction of new price is imminent, but declined to give more information, while the spokesman Shefik Duraki neither confirmed nor denied hiking of the price.
The eventual price hiking of 35 percent would set the new price of the brand "York" to 54 denars from the current 40 denars; the new price of "Brand" would be 63 denars (from 45); and the price of "Boss Lights" would reach 88 denars. The new price of "West" would be 101 denars, and of "Marlboro" - 162 denars.
The cigarette producers raised fears that the announced hiking of prices would have a negative impact on the tobacco industry in the country.
The planned raising of cigarette prices will deliver another blow to the smokers and the tobacco industry, after the recently introduced ban on smoking in public places along with the full prohibition on advertising of tobacco products, Dnevnik daily writes.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Source: MINA, Canada