ALLOWING the sale of smaller packs of cigarettes makes sense for a number of reasons, tobacco companies argue. British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd (BAT Malaysia) managing director Erik Stoel says the biggest challenge the industry faced is competing against illegal cigarette trade in Malaysia. Kelantan, he says, has a penetration of 83 per cent for illicit cigarettes, while Terengganu shows a 75 per cent market penetration. “Malaysia is among the top three Asean countries in the trade of illicit cigarettes, above the Philippines, Cambodia and even Indonesia.”He says this may well change with the introduction of “kiddie packs”. However, Stoel says, enforcement alone will not carry the day, adding that this is why the tobacco industry believes smaller packs would help the fight against illicit cigarette trade.

Source: New Strait Times September 23, 2017 01:30 UTC