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Tag: ASEAN

  • Counterfeit Tobacco Makes up 50% of Cambodian Market

    Counterfeit Tobacco Makes up 50% of Cambodian Market

    Tobacco industry experts in Cambodia warn that the presence of illicit products in the market are increasing at “an alarming pace,” climbing close to 50% of the market, closing in on neighboring Malaysia’s 60% in the Asean region. The scale of the problem is measured through discarded cigarette pack surveys, which reveal a growing trend of untaxed and unregulated products.

    Representatives say that the government is losing more than $38 million annually in tax revenue, noting that the true impact is even greater as the legal industry’s growth is stifled. Authorities destroyed 70 tons of counterfeit cigarettes last year, seizing 23 types of illegal products from a factory inside the Kingdom.

  • ASEAN Could Lose $11B to Illicit Tobacco Trade by 2028

    ASEAN Could Lose $11B to Illicit Tobacco Trade by 2028

    A policy brief by the Center for Market Education (CME) warns that Southeast Asian governments may lose more than $11 billion to illicit tobacco trade by 2028, averaging $3.7 billion annually.

    Key national losses include:

    • Malaysia: $770 million/year, nearly matching projected petrol subsidy savings.
    • Philippines: $440 million/year, exceeding its $370 million disaster preparedness fund.
    • Thailand: $560 million/year, with illicit products making up 28% of the market.
    • Indonesia: $5 billion lost across three years, with illicit trade above 10% of the market.

    CME notes these figures are conservative due to underreporting and uneven enforcement. CEO Dr. Carmelo Ferlito called for stronger cross-border collaboration, policy alignment, and transparency to reclaim lost revenue. Hayley van Loon, CEO of Crime Stoppers International, highlighted the link between illicit tobacco and organized crime, including narcotics, human trafficking, and counterfeit goods.

  • Seatca Urges UN to Ban Plastic Cigarette Filters

    Seatca Urges UN to Ban Plastic Cigarette Filters

    The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) is urging the United Nations to impose a global ban on plastic-based cigarette filters, as final negotiations for a global plastic pollution treaty take place in Geneva this week. Seatca warned that 460 billion cigarette butts are discarded annually in ASEAN countries alone, contributing to a global total of 4.5 trillion. “The filters, made of cellulose acetate, degrade slowly, releasing toxic microplastics, nicotine, and heavy metals into ecosystems,” the organization said.

    Calling cigarette filters “a health fraud and an environmental hazard,” Seatca demanded the treaty enforce the polluter-pays principle, reject industry lobbying, and require mandatory cleanup systems for tobacco waste. They also criticized so-called “eco-filters” and “green butts” as greenwashing tactics, insisting that no sustainable alternatives exist for cigarette filters and calling for a complete ban on all types.

    Seatca estimates that ASEAN countries currently spend $10 billion annually to clean up cigarette filter waste.

  • Laos to Enforce Tough Penalties on Tobacco Firms Over Graphic Warning Violations

    Laos to Enforce Tough Penalties on Tobacco Firms Over Graphic Warning Violations

    Beginning August 15, Laos will strictly penalize tobacco companies and retailers that fail to comply with graphic warning label regulations on cigarette packaging, the Ministry of Health announced. The rules, in effect since May 2024, require cigarette packs to carry one of 10 approved graphic health warnings. Despite a 180-day compliance window, companies have delayed implementation by over a year.

    Penalties will include fines up to LAK 50 million ($2,300), product seizures, and potential license suspensions. Repeat offenders risk legal action and full business closure.

    Laos is the third ASEAN nation to mandate graphic warnings, aiming to combat high smoking rates. Authorities say stricter enforcement is key to protecting public health, especially among youth.