Southeast asia Initiative on Tobacco Tax

Why tobacco taxTobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable death globally, killing around six million people each year.  In addition to these premature deaths, tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke results in huge economic costs, such as greater spending on medical treatment of tobacco-related diseases and productivity losses from sick days and disability.[showhide type=”typeA” more_text=”More” less_text=”Less” hidden=”yes”]The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic. High tobacco taxes and prices have been demonstrated to be the single most effective and cost-effective interventions for reducing tobacco use, particularly among the young and the poor.  On average, a 10% increase in cigarette prices worldwide would reduce consumption by 4% in high-income countries and by 8% in low-and middle-income countries.WHO FCTC Article 6 calls for Parties to the treaty to use tax and price policies to reduce tobacco use.  Tobacco taxes and retail prices should keep pace with each country’s economic and income growth and inflation rates to reduce tobacco affordability and discourage consumption   This will not only generate much-needed government revenues but also save countless lives.[/showhide]

About the SITT ProjectThe SEATCA Initiative on Tobacco Tax (SITT) is SEATCA’s program for intervening specifically on the area of tobacco taxation and pictorial health warning in the region.  [showhide type=”typeB” more_text=”More” less_text=”Less” hidden=”yes”]It recgonizes specific internventions recommended under WHO FCTC relating to the reduction of tobacco demand through price and tax measures (Article 6) and packaging and labeling of tobacco products (Article 11).[/showhide]