Thai Tobacco Trade Association launched

The launch coincides with the recent increase in tobacco excise taxes. The TTTA said that given the large size of the industry, any moves in the future should be made only after consulting with the association.
The TTTA’s primary function will be to represent the views of its members in communicating with government authorities, the media and others on issues of shared interest and concern, including taxation and regulations. As such, the association will strive to be the preferred partner for the government on tobacco-industry policy and the preferred source for the media on tobacco-industry articles, said its executive director, Varaporn Namatra.
The TTTA will assist its members by providing information, advice and education about the industry and will focus its efforts on five core areas. These are creating a rational and balanced regulatory regime, working to prevent youth smoking, finding programmes to help the trade give back to local communities, supporting government efforts against illicit trade, and ensuring fair and reasonable taxation of all tobacco products.
The association currently has more than 1,300 members across the country.
According to the latest data from the Excise Department, there are nearly 500,000 registered holders of tobacco-selling licences in the country, and the value of revenue generated from selling cigarettes is 12.6 per cent of total retailer revenue.
In addition, tobacco products generated more than Bt57 billion in excise revenue for the government, equivalent to 14.3 per cent of the entire excise tax collected, in fiscal year 2011.