Government gives equal rights to cigarette importers, local manufacturers

 May 5, 2011 - 10:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian government has approved a bill on legislative changes to be introduced in the laws on domestic market protection, licensing and state duty. As Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan said, the bill gives equal rights to cigarette importers and local manufacturers.

In October 2010, the Armenian parliament passed amendments to the law on excise tax. The amendments envisage a stage-by-stage equalization of rates for both local producers and importers till 2014.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) rules prohibit any fiscal or regulatory preferences for domestic products. Excise rates should be equal for local and imported cigarettes. A similar requirement on equal tax rates for imported and locally produced products is contained in the Free Trade Agreements (FTA) signed by Armenia with 13 countries, including Russia and Ukraine.