Tobacco News and Interesting Information

MALACCA: There is a price war among cigarette companies and the Health Ministry wants that to stop.

"The price war must stop. The companies have slashed their prices to unreasonable levels to attract smokers," said minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

He gave them two weeks to stop the "war" or said the ministry would intervene by setting a minimum price.

The price war has indirectly made cigarettes cheaper despite the annual duty increase, as manufacturers are willing to cut prices and offer attractive packaging to lure the young to boost sales.

"Smokers can buy a packet of 20 cigarettes for about RM3," Dr Chua told reporters when visiting the Machap Baru health clinic here on Friday.

He lamented that the price war had hampered the Government's effort to discourage smoking.

Tobacco manufacturers and importers needed to register with the ministry so that the government could easily monitor them, he said, adding that the ministry met tobacco company representatives here on Friday, including those from Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and JT International Bhd.

Dr Chua said the companies asked to reduce the graphic warning to less than 50% on cigarette packs, while the Government had suggested the image to be 60% of the package.

He added that a final decision on the matter had yet to be made.