The Russian government decided to postpone introduction of new excise banderoles for tobacco products till 1 September 2006.

According to last year’s decision, new stamps, better protected and 2.5 times more expensive than the old ones, were to be put into use as of 1 January 2006, but the government failed to secure their timely supply to tobacco manufacturers. Now, due to persistent efforts of tobacco trade associations, the regulation has been revised. Issuing of old-type banderoles is to be ceased by 1 June, the inventory of their remains with cigarette plants to be completed in the first half of September, reports the Russian daily Business. (vt)