The sales value of tobacco products decreased by more than 10 per cent after stricter anti-smoking measures and higher tobacco taxes were implemented last year, reports The China Post.

General manager of Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation (TTLC), Hsu An-hsuan, said that overall sales volumes of tobacco in Taiwan decreased from 4.17 million cartons in 2008 to 2.47 million cartons in 2009. He explained the fall was due to the smoking ban of Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, which took effect in January last year, and the Health and Welfare Surcharge, which raised the tax to TWD 31.8 (EUR 0.73) as of July 2009. He also said that the popularity of illegal cigarettes has also negatively affected sales. (pi)