An empty pack survey in Lithuania conducted by the National Association of Tobacco Producers has found that 19.7 percent of the packs collected were smuggled into the country from other markets, according to a Baltic News Service story relayed by the TMA.
Although 19.7 percent might seem high, it is the lowest rate since the survey was launched in 2010, when 42 percent of the packs collected were illicit.
The percentage of illicit packs was 32.8 percent in 2011, 32.5 percent in 2012 and 28.9 percent in 2013.
Ramunas Macius, executive secretary of the National Association of Tobacco Producers, attributed the latest decline primarily to improving economic conditions in the country, efforts of law-enforcement agencies to curb smuggling and the Finance Ministry’s decision to raise cigarette excise tax gradually.
But Macius warned that the survey findings suggested that the number of illicit products on the market was still high and that the authorities could not afford to relax.