Talks that legislation enforcing plain packaging for tobacco products would bring about a black market are absolute nonsense, says a leading health expert who is welcoming the proposed changes. Professor Mike Daube, deputy chair of the National Preventative Health Taskforce said it is possible to gauge the positive impact of the proposed legislation by the commotion the tobacco industry kicks up. Tobacco giants – as well as the Australian ... Jump to full article >>

Democrats held an informational meeting on raising the cigarette tax in Idaho by $1.25 per pack, a move forced by the Republican Party’s refusal to schedule a hearing. About 60 people attended Monday’s session. Democrats want a tax hike from 57 cents per pack now to help reduce smoking – and raise money to fund programs being cut, including public schools and Medicaid. Republicans, even those who also favor a cigarette tax hike ... Jump to full article >>

The Singapore Customs recently realised that that has been an influx of illegal cigarettes in the black market. They also pointed out that ccigarettes bearing the brand “Moon Mountain” are currently not supplied by any local tobacco importer or wholesaler licensed by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). The customs believe that these cigarettes are being smuggled into Singapore by syndicates. The cigarettes resemble legitimate cigar ... Jump to full article >>

TRADING standards chiefs have warned smokers not to buy bootleg fags amid fears some could contain asbestos. The warning comes after a batch of Jin Ling cigarettes was reportedly offered around pubs and club across Hartlepool. The cigarettes, which originate from Russia, are thought to be twice as strong as an ordinary cigarette and many contain toxins such as industrial chemicals and asbestos-lined Chinese drywall. It is believed the cigarette ... Jump to full article >>

OTTAWA — Most young Canadian smokers are “very familiar” with black-market cigarettes and many even support their sale. And they’re deeply skeptical of government assertions that contraband cigarettes are linked to organized crime. So says research commissioned last year by the Canada Revenue Agency in advance of a planned $5-million advertising campaign designed to educate the public and raise awareness of the problem. The agency hired ... Jump to full article >>

As the Tax and Customs Board has made its battle with the black market for cigarettes this year’s priority operation, many otherwise jobless citizens in the border town of Narva have turned smuggling into a life source. The expanding black market is a result of raising the excise tax to the EU minimum, a 20 percent increase implemented in two annual increments beginning in 2011. The recession and the fact that cigarettes are three times ... Jump to full article >>

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)– Major tobacco makers urged a federal advisory panel against banning menthol cigarettes, arguing such a ban would likely create an unregulated black market. The Food and Drug Administration was given the authority to regulate tobacco products in 2009. As part of the tobacco law, all tobacco flavorings except for menthol were banned on concerns the flavors enticed children and adolescents to start smoking. [caption id ... Jump to full article >>

Some of the money earned from the sale of black market smokes is fuelling firearm and drug smuggling efforts by organized criminal groups, an expert says. About $2 billion in tax revenue goes up in smoke as a result of the sale of illegal smokes, according to a report by the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council. About 13 billion illegal cigarettes are sold in Canada a year. “People think selling contraband cigarettes is a victimless crime a ... Jump to full article >>