Mozambique : Overview of Tobacco Use, Tobacco Control Legislation, and Taxation
Mozambique ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control only in 2017, but some tobacco control policies were already implemented in the country before that. The prevalence of current tobacco use in 2003 was about 40 percent in men and 1...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/246681561141519064/Mozambique-Overview-of-Tobacco-Use-Tobacco-Control-Legislation-and-Taxation http://hdl.handle.net/10986/31949 |
| Summary: | Mozambique ratified the WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control only in 2017, but some tobacco
control policies were already implemented in the country
before that. The prevalence of current tobacco use in 2003
was about 40 percent in men and 18 percent in women, while
women consumed predominantly smokeless tobacco. Between 2003
and 2011, the level of tobacco use among women decreased:
the prevalence of smoking remained at the same level, but
the use of other tobacco products substantially declined.
However, among men, the prevalence of current cigarette
smoking increased. The volumes of annual cigarette sales
increased from about 2.5 billion cigarettes in 2006-2010 to
about 3.7 billion cigarettes in 2012-2013 and then declined
in 2014-2016. Since 2010, the tiered specific excises for
cigarettes and mixed (ad valorem and specific) excises for
other tobacco have been in place. In 2013, 2014, and 2015,
the excise rates were increased. In 2013-2016 combined,
tobacco prices in Mozambique increased by 85 percent in
nominal terms, or by 27 percent in inflation-adjusted terms.
Over those years, inflation-adjusted GDP per capita
increased by 14, and so, cigarettes became less affordable.
In 2013-2015, the increase in tobacco excise became one of
the factors of the price increase, which reduced tobacco
affordability and probably reduced tobacco consumption and
sales in the country. Tobacco excise revenue increased from
3.2 billion MZN in 2012 to 3.75 billion MZN in 2015.
However, all neighboring countries have cigarette prices and
taxes much higher than Mozambique. In such a situation,
cigarette smuggling out of Mozambique is rather common,
while cigarette smuggling into Mozambique is very unlikely.
Even in the report commissioned by the tobacco industry,
percentage of contraband cigarettes at the Mozambican market
was estimated to be only 1-2 percent of total consumption.
The following recommendations could provide both public
health and fiscal benefits for Mozambique: As the first
step, cigarette specific excise rates should be unified for
all kinds of cigarettes at the level currently used for
hard-pack cigarettes. Then, the unified rate should be
annually increased to make tobacco products less affordable
over time in order to reduce consumption and prevalence in
line with FCTC provisions. The issue of cigarette smuggling
should not be used in hindering the implementation of tax
and price policies. Increase of cigarette taxes and prices
in Mozambique would reduce cigarette smuggling out of the
country, and it would reduce tobacco consumption in the
neighboring countries. Tobacco control monitoring, including
economic information on tobacco products sales, prices, and
other indicators, should be much improved in the country to
support more precise forecasts of the outcomes of the
current and future tobacco control activities. |
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