Venezuela plans to end tobacco production in order to force consumers to buy high-priced, imported cigarettes announced Health Minister Erick Rodriguez. The measure is intended to reduce the number of smokers.

The legislation which is designed to phase out cultivation and production of tobacco in Venezuela, will be send by the ministry to the congress, Rodriguez said in an interview with state television. Households that make a living by processing tobacco are to be helped by the state.
“Our goal is clear: People who want to smoke will have to import cigarettes,'' Rodriguez said in Caracas. “ We hope people don't take this is as a prohibition, we are just trying to help them.''
Venezuela's tobacco industry pays more taxes per unit of production than any other in South America. The country's biggest tobacco company is Caracas-based Cigarrera Bigott CA, a unit of London-based British American Tobacco Plc and the maker of the top-selling Belmont brand.
Tabacalera Nacional SA, a division of Altria Group Inc., also produces and sells cigarettes in Venezuela.
Under current law, cigarette packs in Venezuela must carry warnings, and tobacco ads are banned from television broadcasts and movie theatres. Furthermore, a smoking ban in restaurants begins on 31 May. It is not clear yet whether the ban will be extended to bars, dance clubs and pubs.