Nicaragua : Overview of Tobacco Use, Tobacco Control Legislation, and Taxation
This country brief provides an overview of tobacco control legislation, use, and taxation in the country. This country brief provides an overview of tobacco control legislation, use, and taxation in the country. Nicaragua became a Party to the WHO...
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2019
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/350241561034551767/Nicaragua-Overview-of-Tobacco-Use-Tobacco-Control-Legislation-and-Taxation http://hdl.handle.net/10986/31966 |
| Summary: | This country brief provides an overview
of tobacco control legislation, use, and taxation in the
country. This country brief provides an overview of tobacco
control legislation, use, and taxation in the country.
Nicaragua became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control in 2008 and was the first country in the
world which ratified the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit
Trade in Tobacco Products. Data on smoking prevalence and
tobacco consumption in Nicaragua are scarce, and it is
difficult to estimate recent tobacco consumption trends
among adults. However, the decline in the prevalence of
current smoking among GYTS participating adolescents from
20.4 percent in 2003 to 13.8 percent in 2014 among boys and
from 12.8 percent in 2003 to 10.3 percent in 2014 among
girls may be considered an indicator of tobacco control
policy success. In 2009, Nicaragua switched from ad valorem
to specific excise system for cigarettes. The specific
excise tax rates and cigarette prices increased in
2012-2016. Available data demonstrate some decline in
cigarette sales in Nicaragua in 2013-2017, as cigarettes
became less affordable after the price increase and the
taxation policy was beneficial for public health. Specific
excise rates in 2017 and 2018 were increased by only 5
percent annually, and it was insufficient both for the
reduction of tobacco affordability and for the increase of
the government revenue. In February 2019, Nicaragua adopted
rather substantial cigarette excise hikes: by 210 percent in
2019 and further by 25 percent in 2020 and 38 percent in
2021. These tax hikes are able to reduce tobacco consumption
in the country and bring additional resources to the
government coffers. However, the tobacco industry will
probably try to distort positive results of the taxation
reform. The government should be ready to counteract these
tactics using the experience of other countries and
conducting careful and timely monitoring of indicators of
cigarette prices, supply, and sales. Tobacco use
surveillance and monitoring should be developed in
Nicaragua, including a regular collection of information on
smoking prevalence, tobacco consumption and various economic indicators. |
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