U.S. POLICY MUST PREVENT CIGARETTE SMUGGLING INTO AND OUT
OF THE UNITED STATES
Concern about the potential for significant tobacco smuggling into the United
States has been high throughout the tobacco policy debate in Congress. What
has been largely overlooked is that the United States, due to lax oversight
of its massive cigarette exports, is fueling an international black market that
creates law enforcement, revenue and public health problems worldwide. Researchers estimate that about one-third of all cigarette exports disappear into the black market. U.S. brands such as Marlboro, Camel, Winston and Kent are the most commonly smuggled.
Ultimately, international agreements are needed to sharply reduce smuggling rates. In the meantime, however, there are significant steps the U.S. can and should take unilaterally.
U.S. Law Can Help
A proposal incorporated in several tobacco bills would address tobacco smuggling into and out of the United States by providing appropriate authority to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF). BATF may be authorized to:
- License all exporters and require appropriate record-keeping;
- Require exporters to post bonds on cigarette shipments that can only be released after the cigarettes reach their final destination; and,
- Require tobacco products sold on U.S. military bases and Indian reservations to be specially marked.
This proposal makes good sense as a matter of law enforcement and health policy.
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For more information contact:
National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids
Tel: 202-296-5469
For more information contact:
National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids
Tel: 202-296-5469
Questions? Comments? Concerns? E-mail CECHE at CECHE@comcast.net
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