Philip Morris International Supports WHO's Latest Effort to Fight Illegal Trade of Tobacco 

(MENAFN Press) LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Monday, November 12th 2012

Philip Morris International Inc.'s (PMI) (NYSE:PM) (Paris:PM) Vice President of Communications Peter Nixon issued the following statement today applauding the World Health Organization for passing the first international protocol to fight the illegal trade of tobacco and reconfirming the company's support for the measure.

"With sales estimated at more than 600 billion cigarettes a year “ more than one in every 10 consumed “ all black market tobacco products combined make up the third largest tobacco supplier in the world.

"While the passage of this protocol is not the silver bullet to resolving this serious issue, it is a step toward addressing a problem that not only harms governments but fuels organized crime and terrorism.

"The long term solution to this challenge lies in governments implementing effective policies and providing sufficient enforcement resources to disrupt the global illegal supply chain through which these unlawful products are manufactured, transported and sold. In addition, preventative measures not covered under today's agreement, such as regulating the essential materials used to produce tobacco products, should be considered by governments in the national implementation of this protocol."

For more information regarding the problem of illicit tobacco trade visit http://www.pmi.com/eng/tobacco_regulation/illicit_trade/pages/illicit_trade.aspx.