CAMBODIA
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) announced that it is rejoining the Association of the Tobacco Industry of Cambodia (ATIC), after leaving it in mid-2016. The reason JTI rejoined ATIC is a recent ATIC promise to combat illegal cigarette sales and fake products.
ATIC held its annual meeting in early June 2018 and decided to regroup in order to tackle issues that have put the industry at risk, including illegal cigarette sales, fake products, products with non-pictorial health warnings and products which do not have a legitimate tax stamp.
Cormac O’Rourke, general manager of JTI Cambodia, said his company’s rejoining of ATIC will raise the commitment of all members and players to adhere to the relevant laws and regulations that benefit the entire industry. “The illegal trade of tobacco products is, by far, the industry’s biggest challenge. It is severely damaging tobacco companies, the industry, public health agenda and the national economy,” he said.
ATIC now consists of PMI, Houtraco, British American Tobacco Cambodia (BATC), and JTI (Cambodia) as official members.