Those who wish to produce or trade in tobacco and tobacco products would be required to obtain licenses.
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| Producing cigarettes at Thang Long Tobacco Factory__Photo: Internet |
According to a draft decree on tobacco business being circulated for public comment by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), as tobacco business is a conditional business line, organizations and individuals engaged in production and trading of tobacco products; processing or trading of tobacco materials; entrusted import and export of tobacco materials, or investment in tobacco tree growing would have to apply for a relevant license or certificate from line agencies.
The State would control the supply of tobacco products, both home-made and imported, to the market, perform state trading of cigarettes and cigars imported for domestic consumption, and control the output of tobacco products on the market via tobacco product distribution systems. Specialized machinery and equipment of the tobacco industry, tobacco materials, cigarette rolling papers and tobacco products are subject to the MOIT’s specialized management.
The total output of tobacco products produced and imported for sale in a year by a company must not exceed the output stated in its license, which would be decided by the MOIT on the basis of the company’s business results in the last three years and its production business plans for the subsequent five years. The license would be valid for five years from the date of issuance and only licensed enterprises would be allowed to print labels or sign contracts with printing establishments to print tobacco labels.- (VLLF)
