Tobacco.org

Pass me my 'virtual' cigarette 

Chisinau - Scientists in the former Soviet republic Moldova on Thursday unveiled what they called a "virtual" cigarette, Infotag news agency reported.

The pseudo-smoke, already under production at the Chisinau Tobacco Factory (CTF) "creates the complete illusion and sensation of conventional smoking," said factory boss Petr Poyan.

The tobacco-based product is suckled rather than set afire, and so may safely be used on aeroplanes and in smoke-free environments . . .

CTF has signed a contract with an Italian company to market the product in 5 European countries

Jump to full article »

Moldova Sets Excise Tax on Tobacco Imports 

The Moldovan parliament today determined the excise duty rate on cigarette imports: 2.5 dollars per 1,000 cigarettes. However, the adopted law puts it that till 1 April cigarettes may be imported, and till 1 July realized, without excise stamps stuck to the packages. The Communist faction was resolutely against this decision, claiming that it will only stimulate smuggling. In their words, customs warehouses at Moldovan border are full of cigarettes enough for a year of trade. Now the traders will do everything possible to bring this ocean of tobacco over to the country before 1 April. As a result, the budget is going to short receive millions of lei in taxes.

Jump to full article »

Moldova Agrees To Privatize Wine and Tobacco Enterprises 

The Moldovan parliament on 19 October passed legislation privatizing wineries and tobacco enterprises by a vote of 55 to 36, with only the Communist Party voting against.

The bills' previous delay caused the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to suspend financial and other assistance programs to the country in 1999. With the Moldovan economy largely dependent on these two industries "the decision of the parliament is one that has no other alternative," INTERLIC news agency quoted President Petru Lucinschi as saying. . .

Communist Party leader, Vladimir Voronin, however, is far from optimistic: "Only the blind do not see that from the outset of the so-called reforms, which made Moldova one of the poorest countries in Europe and the CIS, it has been this predatory privatization that has served as a well-thought-out and well-adjusted mechanism for the monstrous, unsurpassable plunder of the people for the fabulous enrichment of a narrow group of swindlers and rogues. ... Today you have hammered the last nail in the coffin of the national economy, but your joy at this privatization is premature."

Jump to full article »

IMF: Moldova Must Privatize Wine,Tobacco;Increase Deficit 

Moldova must privatize its wine and tobacco industries and make changes to the budget if it wants a $35 million loan, an International Monetary Fund official said Wednesday.

Jump to full article »

Moldova prepares for second round of privatization 

Sales of stakes of the country's most proud industries -- tobacco and wine -- are also included on the government's privatization plan, although the timeframes remain vague. . . The tobacco sector, which failed to sell as a monopoly in a previous tender, has also now been broken up for piece by piece sales of individual companies.

Jump to full article »

Moldova to complete tobacco,energy,telecom sales 

Moldova plans to go ahead with privatisations plans in the energy, telecoms and tobacco sectors by the end of this year, the head of the Department for Privatisation and State Property said on Thursday. . . . Deputies also approved the sale of 100 percent of the five distribution networks. Draft plans for Chisinau's tobacco factory and fermentation plants are due to be sent for approval to deputies in the near future.

Jump to full article »