Morocco’s Finance and Economic Development Committee reportedly approved the new round of taxes after a vote, reports Morocco World News.
The tax means consumers will have to pay MAD 675 (USD 62.60) for every kilo of shisha smoking material. To impose the new tax, the government first voted to amend to the Finance Bill of 2023 to expand the tax base to include shisha without tobacco and e-cigarettes.
In a statement reported by concurring news reports, official sources said the measure “aims to preserve the health of consumers, especially young adults, and to protect them against the negative effects of consumption and addiction to these products.”
The statement goes on to say that the importation of tobacco-free shisha will not be taxed, despite the fact that it poses the same health risks as shisha containing tobacco.