The Ministry of Finance has published a draft order on raising minimum retail prices for cigarettes, papirosy, cigarillos and heated tobacco products. The document has been put up for public consultation, which will run until 20 July 2026.
WHAT THE DRAFT PROPOSES
According to the draft order published on the portal "Open NPA", the document amends the order of the Minister of Finance of 22 February 2022 No. 196 "On establishing minimum retail prices for filter and non-filter cigarettes, papirosy, cigarillos and heated tobacco products".
The amendments have been prepared to implement subparagraph 2-1) of Article 5 of the Law "On State Regulation of the Production and Circulation of Tobacco Products".
The ministry notes that the increase in minimum retail prices is aimed at pursuing a balanced tax and pricing policy, supporting public health goals to reduce the prevalence and use of tobacco, as well as increasing budget revenues and reducing the share of the shadow economy.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE NEW PRICES
The published draft does not specify by how much the minimum retail prices for tobacco products will increase. The corresponding amounts are not included in the public consultation materials.
The public consultation on the draft order will last until 20 July 2026.
WHAT WILL CHANGE
If the document is adopted, the minimum retail prices for filter and non-filter cigarettes, papirosy, cigarillos and heated tobacco products will be changed. Other parameters of the changes, including the specific amounts of the new prices, are not disclosed in the published draft.
WHAT FBRK PREVIOUSLY FOUND OUT ABOUT TOBACCO SMUGGLING
FBRK previously released a series of investigations into the illegal tobacco market in Kazakhstan. In two episodes, the editorial team reported on the scale of the grey market, which is estimated to account for up to 20% of cigarette sales, as well as the supply routes for contraband products, including the Kyrgyz direction.
A separate episode was dedicated to the case of Sergei Buri - a subject of the investigation extradited from Russia concerning an alleged transnational tobacco smuggling scheme. Details are on the FBRK YouTube channel:
