BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 7. A temporary six-month ban on the import, transit, or re-export of cigarettes is proposed in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.
A resolution draft has been submitted for public discussion by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
According to the document, this initiative aims to protect the health of Kyrgyz citizens from the consumption of counterfeit and uncertified cigarettes. It also seeks to strengthen efforts against cigarette smuggling and ensure that tax revenue projections for the state budget are met.
According to the tax service, 65,231 packs of cigarettes were confiscated from illegal circulation in 2023.
In that year, the share of illegal cigarettes was 17.7 percent. The counterfeit products, branded as Oris, Mondeo, Like, and Madrid, were found to be manufactured in third countries, including Serbia and the UAE.