According to a report by Sputnik on March 10th, Kaha Gvinianidze, the coordinator of the non-communicable diseases program at the World Health Organization, expressed shock at Georgia's proposal to reduce the tobacco consumption tax from 60 Georgian lari (22.60 US dollars) to 30 Georgian lari (11.30 US dollars). Gvinianidze stated that this measure goes against the government's tobacco control policy implemented in 2021.
This violates the national tobacco control policy approved in 2021, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to which Georgia is a signatory, as well as Directive 283 of the association.
According to the initiative of David Songulashvili, Chair of the Parliamentary Economic Policy Committee, and other members, a bill has been registered in parliament aimed at reducing the tax rate on tobacco products from 60 Georgian Lari ($22.60) to 30 Georgian Lari ($11.30). Documents published on the parliament's website show that if the legislative initiative is passed, budget tax revenues will decrease.
However, the proposal has received support from the majority party members in Parliament, who claim that this will help stimulate industry development, increase market competitiveness, and reduce the importation of illegal tobacco.
Georgia and the European Union signed an agreement that includes a provision to increase tobacco taxes, with a commitment to fully implement it by 2022. However, this agreement has been extended until 2026.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
