Illicit trade in tobacco products: Kenya ratifies protocol

On May 4, 2020, the Kenya became the 59th country to ratify the Protocol to Combat Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products[1]. The Protocol is linked to the WHO treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This legally binding text for countries that ratify it provides for the fight against illicit trade in tobacco products by controlling the supply chain, developing international technical and judicial cooperation and finally strengthening sanctions. Illicit trade makes tobacco products more accessible and affordable, and results in a loss of more than 40 billion dollars (more than 36 billion euros).[2] for governments. Therefore, effective implementation of the Protocol is essential to the success of the global fight against tobacco. Kenya has a strong track record in combating the illicit cigarette trade[3]. In 2010[4], the country introduced digital tax stamps and a licensing system. In 2014, it set up a tobacco tracking and tracing system, independent of the tobacco industry. Such a system makes it possible to identify whether a product is legal or not and, in the case of an illicit product, to determine when it joined the parallel fraud markets. The Kenyan Revenue Authority estimates that the market share of illicit cigarette trade has fallen from 15% in 2003 to 5% in 2016.[5], a direct result of the measures implemented. Ratification of the Protocol will help implement additional efforts in the fight against illicit trade in tobacco products. The latter will be able to further contribute to sharing its experience and good practices at the international level. Finally, the ratification of the Kenya Protocol is important insofar as the country is already very committed to the fight against illicit trade in tobacco products: its involvement and experience are likely to help other countries, particularly African countries, in this area. ©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/illicit-trade/ [2] Joossens L, Merriman D, Ross H, Raw M. The impact of eliminating the global illicit cigarette trade on health and income. Addiction. 2010;105(9):1640‐1649. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03018.x [3] World Bank. 2019. Confronting Illicit Tobacco Trade: a Global Review of Country Experiences: Confronting Illicit Tobacco Trade: a Global Review of Country Experiences (English). WBG Global Tobacco Control Program. Washington, DC: World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/677451548260528135/Confronting-Illicit-Tobacco-Trade-a-Global-Review-of-Country-Experiences [4] Ross, Hana. (2017). Tracking and tracing tobacco products in Kenya. Preventive Medicine. 105S. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.04.025. [5] Ibid   ©National Committee Against Smoking |