The Tobacco Control Alliance (TCA) said Georgia’s goal of becoming tobacco-free by 2040 is under threat due to the rapid rise in e-cigarette and heated tobacco use, particularly among young people. The 2025 Global Adult Tobacco Survey said smoking prevalence in the country fell from 33% to 24% over the past decade, but the TCA says alternative nicotine products are undermining progress. The TCA is urging stronger “tobacco endgame” measures, including equal taxation of all tobacco and nicotine products, tighter controls on e-cigarettes, flavor bans, higher age limits, and stricter enforcement, noting that tobacco-related economic damage far exceeds tax revenues and that public support for tougher policies is strong.
Tag: Georgia
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Georgia Wants Declining Smoking Rate Down Quicker
Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control and Public Health presented new findings from studies conducted under the Global Tobacco Surveillance System, finding 25.4% of adults and 14% of young people in the country use tobacco products. Despite the gradual decline in overall consumption, Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze said reducing tobacco use remains a key public health priority and stressed the importance of evidence-based policymaking in shaping effective tobacco control measures. While welcoming the downward trend, the NCDC noted that stronger action is still needed to further reduce tobacco use.
The nationwide surveys, carried out between 2023 and 2025, have already informed Georgia’s National Tobacco Control Strategy for 2026–2030.
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Georgia Tobacco Tax Reform Protects Domestic Production
Georgia’s excise tax will increase by 85 tetri ($0.31) per pack for imported cigarettes, reaching 2.75 GEL ($1.02) per 20-cigarette pack beginning January 1, 2026. Outlined in a draft law proposed by Georgian Dream MPs, taxes on locally produced cigarettes will be reduced to 1.30 GEL ($0.48) per 20-cigarette pack for the first 35 million packs annually, and 2.75 GEL thereafter. Also, the ad valorem component for local production drops from 30% of retail price to 15% for the first 35 million packs, and 20% for production exceeding that amount.
The legislation aims to protect and promote local tobacco production, increase competitiveness, and stabilize market share while maintaining fiscal and public policy objectives. Officials highlight that the new structure is expected to create a healthier competitive environment, support domestic producers, and sustain budget revenues.
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Georgia to Require Production Licenses
Photo: Taco Tuinstra Georgian lawmakers approved legislation requiring tobacco manufacturers to obtain licenses, reports Front News Georgia. They set the license fee at GEL50,000 ($18,521.26).
The amended Law On Tobacco Control mandates licenses for activities such as slicing, coating, dipping and mixing raw tobacco, as well as the production of cigarettes. The packaging of finished tobacco products and cigarettes also falls under the new licensing requirements.
Excluded from the licensing requirements are tobacco importers, leaf growers and primary processors.
The government will determine the specific rules and conditions for obtaining a tobacco production license through a normative act.
An explanatory note accompanying the draft law highlighted the importance of improving and strengthening the tobacco production process to reduce the use of harmful raw materials. According to the note, high-tech processing by reputable manufacturers can improve health protection standards for smokers.
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Tabaterra to Produce JTI Brands for Georgia
Photo: Tabaterra Tabaterra will produce certain Japan Tobacco International brands in Azerbaijan and sell them in Georgia under a recently signed deal between the companies.
“We are very pleased to have partnership with JTI on the production and export of global brands,” said Tabaterra Director Elman Javanshir in a statement. “The export agreement we signed is a clear example of production of high-quality products at Tabaterra in accordance with international standards.
According to Javanshir, the export agreement will make a significant contribution to the economy of Azerbaijan, generating annual foreign currency inflows of around $13 million.
“The export agreement we signed with Tabaterra CJSC is of great importance for JTI in terms of strengthening our position in the Georgian market,” said Sergey Buksa, general manager of JTI for Belarus and the Caucasus region.
“Based on the experience and production capabilities of our business partner, Tabaterra, we can now manufacture our global brands such as Sobranie, Winston and Camel in Azerbaijan in a shorter period of time and ensure its accessibility for Georgian consumers. The export agreement we have signed will contribute to the increase of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia.”
Tabaterra was registered in November, 2017. In addition to its own products, the company produces international tobacco brands under license.
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Georgia Bill Would Criminalize Vaping
Image: Tobacco Reporter archive A Georgia, USA, bill, Senate Bill 47, would criminalize the use of vapor products in public spaces, reports Filter.
If the bill is passed, it would ban vaping in all public spaces in which combustible cigarettes are banned under the Georgia 2005 Smoke Free Air Act. Those caught breaking the law would be fined between $100 and $500. The bill would also prosecute public vaping violations as misdemeanors—in Georgia, this means incarceration of up to a year and the inability to obtain certain jobs.
Under the legislation, the definition of smoking would be revised to “such term includes the use of an electronic smoking device which creates an aerosol or vapor or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking.”