The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) in partnership with the People’s Health Foundation (PHF), Myanmar; the Internal Revenue Department and the Ministry of Finance in Myanmar; and the World Health Organization (WHO) held a “Regional Workshop on Tobacco Taxation in ASEAN Countries” last September 18-19, 2015 at Taw Win Garden Hotel in Yangon Myanmar. 

Dr. U Than Sein, President of PHF and Ms. Bungon Ritthiphakdee, SEATCA’s Executive Director gave the inaugural address and welcomed the delegates. 

During the workshop, the delegates discussed the WHO FCTC Article 6 Guidelines, shared lessons learned on tobacco tax policy development and implementation, exchanged stories on challenges and counter measures on tobacco industry interference and were encouraged to develop a long-term plan for effective tobacco taxation in their respective countries to cope with the tobacco industry interference in tobacco taxation.