Abstract
BackgroundIllicit trade of tobacco negatively affects countries’ tobacco control efforts. It leads to lower tobacco prices and makes tobacco products more accessible to vulnerable populations. In this study, we constructed an illicit tobacco trade index, which measures the structural and institutional capabilities of 160 countries in addressing illicit tobacco trade. We collected the most recent and best available data on general governance, tobacco control policies, and trade and customs practices.ResultsSingapore, New Zealand, Finland and Sweden lead countries with the most favorable illicit tobacco trade score. We observed a positive relationship between illicit tobacco trade scores and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita and a negative relationship with the share of illicit tobacco trade to total tobacco consumption.ConclusionsThe capability to combat illicit trade varies across countries. However, on average, low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are less capable of addressing illicit tobacco trade as suggested by the lower illicit tobacco trade index score. The lower index score in low and middle-income countries was mainly driven by low scores in tobacco control policies and trade and customs practices and conditions. Our study reinforces the importance for LMICs to adopt the WHO’s Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Tobacco Trade Products, particularly committing to treaty obligations and investing on track and trace system and other customs reforms.
Highlights
Tobacco smoking kills more than eight million people every year
Controlling illicit tobacco trade (ITT) together with progressive taxation and supply regulations are effective interventions to decrease the disease burden caused by smoking
The countries were categorized as low-income if Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is $1,025 or less in 2018; lower middle-income economies are those with a GNI per capita between $1,026 and $3,995; upper middle-income economies are those between $3,996 and $12,375; high-income economies are those with a GNI per capita of $12,376 or more
Summary
Tobacco smoking kills more than eight million people every year. Seven million of these preventable deaths are directly attributed to tobacco use and approximately 1.2 million to second-hand smoking [1]. Controlling illicit tobacco trade (ITT) together with progressive taxation and supply regulations are effective interventions to decrease the disease burden caused by smoking. ITT negatively affects the tobacco control efforts of countries. It leads to lower tobacco prices and makes tobacco products; the availability of low-priced illicit tobacco products undermines. Illicit trade of tobacco negatively affects countries’ tobacco control efforts. It leads to lower tobacco prices and makes tobacco products more accessible to vulnerable populations. We collected the most recent and best available data on general governance, tobacco control policies, and trade and customs practices
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