The Maldives National Chamber of Commerce (MNCCI) commends the relevant Maldivian authorities on the new tobacco control regulation under which the sale of single cigarette sticks would be banned.
The chamber believes that the ban would undoubtedly force smokers to feel the brunt of the significant tax hike on tobacco enforced earliest this year as part
MNCCI recognizes the significance of the recent efforts undertaken by the government to curb tobacco use in the country with the tax hike earlier this year. The chamber fully supports the new regulation that would also mandate affixing pictures on cigarette packs to illustrate the dangers of smoking which according to studies go a long way in discouraging smokers.
The chamber would like to take this opportunity to laud the authorities for taking the initiative to control tobacco use in the Maldives in a bid to build a healthier future.