UAE likely to revise tax on tobacco products 

(MENAFN) A GCC level proposal, if implemented will cause local tax on tobacco sales and production to replace the customs duty currently enforced, reported Khaleej Times.

Tobacco sales have been climbing in the UAE over the past five years causing the government to propose a 'health tax' to level off tobacco use.

The percentage increase of tax on tobacco products is currently unclear but the head of the Tobacco Control Committee in the Ministry of Health wants to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the GCC to revise the current tobacco taxation system.

The Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Ala Alwan said: "Issuing laws and adopting appropriate measures to ban tobacco advertising, increase taxes on tobacco products, place pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs and ban smoking in public places are the only ways to counter the tobacco epidemic".