The Belarusian president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, established a government monopoly on the import of cigarettes and tobacco raw material by a presidential decree from 18 October.

According to the Belarusian leader’s press office, the right to import tobacco raw materials is to be rewarded to two cigarette manufacturers only, the state-owned Nyoman Tobacco Factory in Hrodna and Minsk-based Tabak Invest, while Belarushandal (Belarustorg), an enterprise run by the presidential administrative department, will have the exclusive right to import finished tobacco products.
Existing deals for the import of cigarettes will be valid until 1 January 2008. Existing deals for the import of tobacco raw material will be valid as contracted as cigarette manufacturers are the only importers of tobacco to Belarus. The wholesale purchasing and sale of tobacco in Belarus will be illegal unless carried out by organisations entitled by the government.
The decree introduces amendments into regulations regarding state control over the production, advertising and consumption of tobacco and cigarettes. The decree abolishes quotas on the import of cigarettes and the licensing requirement and forbids sole entrepreneurs to import cigarettes.
These measures will ensure proper state control over the import of tobacco and cigarettes and become an additional obstacle to bringing low-quality cigarettes into the country, the press office said. (pi)