The WHO has released a new technical manual on tobacco tax policy and administration showing countries ways to cut down on over USD 1.4 trillion in health expenditures and lost productivity due to tobacco use worldwide.

According to the WHO, the improved tobacco taxation policies can also be a key component of building back better after COVID-19, where countries need additional resources to respond and to finance health system recovery.
“We launched this new manual to provide updated, clear, and practical guidance for policymakers, finance officials, tax authorities, customs officials and others involved in tobacco tax policy to create and implement the strongest tobacco taxation policies for their specific countries,” said Jeremias N. Paul Jr, Unit Head for the Fiscal Policies for Health team in the Health Promotion Department at WHO. “We hope this document sheds light on the significant advantages to raising tobacco taxation. The data and insights provided here should be an eye opener for policymakers worldwide,” he said.
In 2018 only 38 countries, covering 14 per cent of the global population had sufficiently high tobacco taxes – which means taxing at least 75 per cent of the price of tobacco products, said WHO. By implementing proven policies like tobacco taxes, the “costs created by the tobacco industry to local communities and nations can be avoidable”.