About Tobacco Tax Program

Background

The Tobaccco Tax Pogram is SEATCA’s program for intervening specifically on the area of tobacco taxation and pictorial health warning in the region. It recognizes specific interventions recommended under WHO FCTC relating to the reduction of tobacco demand through price and tax measures (Article 6) and packaging and labeling of tobacco products (Article 11).

Tobacco Tax Program is on phase two of  a five-year program that targets six low- and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam. With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Tobacco Tax Program uses globally-proven evidence to encourage governments to adopt more progressive tobacco tax regimes that will lower smoking incidence while at the same time increase government revenues that can further assist national health and social development programs.

Tobacco Tax Program Objective

• ​Support the implementation of the FCTC Article 6 according to the FCTC Article 6 Guidelines in six target countries.​
• Simplified, uniform and specific tobacco taxation regimes with real and regular tobacco tax increases in ​six​ target countries.
• Elements of the SEATCA organizational model incorporated into other regional alliances for tobacco control in developing countries.

As a South-to-South initiative, the program also seeks technical assistance and mentorship for each target country provided by their own neighbors: Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Other project partners include the World Health Organization, World Bank, University of Cape Town in South Africa, and the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

For more information please go to SEATCA.ORG or Email us at info@seatca.org

Tobacco tax index: infographics

ASIA illicit tobacco indicator 2017 infographic