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Filtered by Countries — 114 articles

Nicola Sudan

2 Feb. 2026

2 min read

It Was Bound to Happen: BAT Pulls Cigarette Production Out of South Africa

It hardly comes as a surprise to learn that British American Tobacco (BAT) – which controls roughly two thirds of South Africa’s legal cigarette market – has decided to close its sole manufacturing plant in the country, as it struggles to operate in a market consumed by illicit trade.

Countries Excise Products Illicit Trade

Chander S Jeena

20 Jan. 2026

3 min read

Hong Kong Customs Reports Successful Trial of Tax Stamps

In the February 2025 issue of Tax Stamp & Authentication News™, we reported on Hong Kong Customs’ launch of a three-month pilot scheme under its new tobacco duty stamp system. The initiative introduced trial stamps on duty-paid cigarette packs to curb illicit trade and strengthen tax compliance.

Countries Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

22 Dec. 2025

2 min read

South Africa Launches Multi-Industry Task Forces to Tackle Illicit Trade

The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has launched several task forces aimed at strengthening South Africa’s response to illicit trade, with a particular focus on high-risk excisable and fast-moving consumer goods sectors.

Countries Enforcement & Surveillance Illicit Trade

Linda Desrochers

22 Dec. 2025

4 min read

Canada’s Excise Stamp Journey – From Tobacco to Cannabis to Vapes

This article describes the journey of excise stamps in Canada, including how they have evolved and why they matter.

Case Studies Countries Excise Products

Francisco Mandiola

22 Dec. 2025

4 min read

From Medicines to Fuel: Traceability Tightens State Oversight in Argentina and Mexico

Despite the markedly different political profiles and public images of their respective presidential administrations, both Argentina and Mexico have embraced traceability systems as tools to strengthen control over products that are, quite literally, honey for illicit-trade bees.

Countries Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2025

3 min read

Ghana Extends Tax Stamps to Refined Edible Oils

Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced the introduction of a tax stamp regime on refined edible oils, modelled after the stamps used in the beverage industry.

Countries Excise Products Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2025

2 min read

New Guyana Alcohol Stamps Reflect Global Shift

On 1 November, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) launched three new tax stamps on alcoholic beverages, together with an automated monitoring system for strengthened product traceability. The system was developed in partnership with GRA’s existing stamp provider Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN), which also supplies Guyana’s tobacco stamps.

Countries Free Tax Stamps Free

Chander S Jeena

4 Dec. 2025

5 min read

Nepal Moves Toward Self-Reliant Security Printing After Long Procurement Hurdles

Nepal’s experience with tax stamps has never been a straightforward one, even though it has been relying on tax stamps for over two decades now to generate revenue from alcohol and tobacco. Indeed, these small pieces of paper serve a vital purpose, helping the country to collect nearly NPR 102 billion ($715 million) in excise duty from tobacco, beer, and liquor.

Countries Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2025

2 min read

Will e-Invoicing and Enhanced Stamps Finally Close Malawi’s Tax Gap?

According to local press, Malawi is preparing for a major change in the way it records and collects taxes, as the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) moves forward with the rollout of its Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) in February 2026. This, combined with recently introduced digital excise stamps (known as ‘Kalondola’) offer a potential turning point for revenue management and transparency.

Countries Tax & Revenue Tax Stamps

Sven Bergmann

29 Sept. 2025

9 min read

The Overlooked Threat: Illicit Tobacco as a Global Public Policy Challenge

Illicit trade in tobacco and vapor products has become a critical challenge facing policymakers, regulators, revenue authorities, and law enforcement. Once seen as a secondary issue compared to narcotics or counterfeit pharmaceuticals, illicit tobacco is now a clear and present threat for many countries across the globe.

Countries Excise Products Free Free

Nicola Sudan

29 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Chad Hosts Technical Experts from WHO FCTC Secretariat

In September, technical experts from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat engaged with Chad government officials, parliamentarians, civil society organisations and other national stakeholders in a joint needs assessment to support the country’s implementation of the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which it has been party to since 2018.

Countries Excise Products Government

Nicola Sudan

29 Sept. 2025

1 min read

Indonesia Reviews Cigarette Excise Amid Forgery Allegations

According to Tobacco Reporter, Indonesia’s government is conducting an in-depth review of its cigarette excise system following allegations of forgery and manipulation, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto.

Countries Government Tax & Revenue

Ian Lancaster

2 Sept. 2025

8 min read

The UK’s Illicit Cigarette Trade

In the June 2025 issue of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™, we reported that KPMG had released its ‘Illicit Cigarette Consumption in Europe’ report for 2024, commissioned by Philip Morris. Prompted by a later in-depth report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the illicit cigarette trade in Hull, a port city on England’s North Sea coast, this article examines the situation in the UK as a whole.

Countries Excise Products Illicit Trade

Francisco Mandiola

21 July 2025

6 min read

Cigarette Tax Efficiency: A New Opportunity for Ecuador

In April this year, President Noboa of Ecuador, who has positioned himself and his administration as focused on law and order, was re-elected with over 55% of the popular vote. His stance on fighting corruption and drug- related violence might prove fertile ground for a more efficient fight against other criminal activity such as the rise in contraband cigarettes. Months before the election, a congressional justice committee highlighted the importance of tobacco traceability in a draft bill against illicit trade but, so far, the regulations established in late 2021 remain in force.

Countries Excise Products

Francisco Mandiola

29 June 2025

5 min read

It Takes Two to Tango – Argentine Tax Authority Juggles Producers and Resellers

Amid sweeping efforts by President Milei’s government to reform Argentina’s tax administration, the country’s tobacco tax stamp programme is an important step towards such reform. While the programme has helped Argentina’s tax authority reconcile production volumes with the number of products actually sold and taxes paid, there is an ongoing price disparity in the market, between manufacturers and resellers, that is ultimately resulting in less tax going to the government.

Case Studies Countries Tax & Revenue

Nicola Sudan

27 May 2025

3 min read

Managing the Raw Tobacco Supply Chain: Insights from Poland

At the recent Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™, Dr Hana Ross from the World Bank Global Tax Program shared findings from a 2020 study examining Poland’s approach to regulating the raw tobacco supply chain. The study highlighted how targeted controls helped the country significantly reduce its illicit tobacco trade.

Case Studies Countries Excise Products

Aftab Baloch

27 May 2025

5 min read

Pakistan Introduces Fuel Tracking Law... But Systemic Issues Need Addressing First

According to the Pakistani press, the country’s government has introduced an amendment to the 1934 Petroleum Act to implement real-time tracking of petroleum products, from import and production to retail sale. This move aims to reduce massive annual revenue losses estimated at PKR 300-500 billion ($1.1-$1.8 billion), due to smuggling and adulteration of petroleum products.

Countries Excise Products Regulations

Nicola Sudan

5 Nov. 2024

2 min read

New Tax Stamps for Ukraine – Part of Bigger Digitalisation Picture

The global software engineering company ELEKS has been awarded a tender to develop Ukraine’s ‘e-Excise’ tax stamp and traceability programme for tobacco and alcohol products.

Countries Free Free

Nicola Sudan

30 June 2024

2 min read

Ethiopia Moves Forward with Tax Stamp Plans

Following a tender process launched in 2022, the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance has recently introduced a new excise stamp management directive.

Countries

Aftab Baloch

2 April 2024

3 min read

Pakistan’s Tax Authority – A White Elephant

Pakistan’s economy is currently going through a crucial period, like many other economies in the world. Along with unprecedented floods and political turmoil, the economy is beset by skyrocketing interest rates and inflation, as well as a decline in imports.

Countries

Latest News

It Was Bound to Happen: BAT Pulls Cigarette Production Out of South Africa

Hong Kong Customs Reports Successful Trial of Tax Stamps

South Africa Launches Multi-Industry Task Forces to Tackle Illicit Trade

Canada’s Excise Stamp Journey – From Tobacco to Cannabis to Vapes

From Medicines to Fuel: Traceability Tightens State Oversight in Argentina and Mexico

Ghana Extends Tax Stamps to Refined Edible Oils

New Guyana Alcohol Stamps Reflect Global Shift

Nepal Moves Toward Self-Reliant Security Printing After Long Procurement Hurdles

Will e-Invoicing and Enhanced Stamps Finally Close Malawi’s Tax Gap?

The Overlooked Threat: Illicit Tobacco as a Global Public Policy Challenge

Chad Hosts Technical Experts from WHO FCTC Secretariat

Indonesia Reviews Cigarette Excise Amid Forgery Allegations

The UK’s Illicit Cigarette Trade

Cigarette Tax Efficiency: A New Opportunity for Ecuador

It Takes Two to Tango – Argentine Tax Authority Juggles Producers and Resellers

Managing the Raw Tobacco Supply Chain: Insights from Poland

Pakistan Introduces Fuel Tracking Law... But Systemic Issues Need Addressing First

New Tax Stamps for Ukraine – Part of Bigger Digitalisation Picture

Ethiopia Moves Forward with Tax Stamp Plans

Pakistan’s Tax Authority – A White Elephant

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