Law to regulate cigarette industry adopted

MEMBERS of Parliament have adopted a law to regulate the import and export of cigarettes.
The MPs said the regulations would help clean the country’s image as Swaziland was now seen as a conduit for the smuggling of illegal cigarettes.
The motion to adopt the regulations was moved by Nkilongo MP Trusty Gina and seconded by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo.
Khumalo said since it was recently said that the country loses at least E40 million a month because of failure to have the regulations, it was essential that something be done speedily.
“We should not lose such amount of money just because we do not have regulations,” he said.
MP Gina said she had gathered from the South African media that the neighbouring country’s police were worried that Swaziland had bonded warehouses yet the country does not have regulations.
“This implies that the cigarettes in these warehouses may not have been declared.”
She said the regulations would also help put an end to the illegal cigarettes that are in circulation.
Currently, companies who have bonded warehouses import cigarettes from Zimbabwe and sell them to Mozambique.

Add to: del.icio.us | Digg