South Africa’s largest tobacco industry organisations have committed to ensure members’ compliance with tax and customs and excise legislation and agreed to take action against any found contravening these laws.
This was agreed on by the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa (Tisa) and the Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) during a meeting with the South African Revenue Service in Pretoria yesterday. It’s part of a push to curb the inflow of illegal cigarettes into the South African market, something that has been suffocating local business.
“All parties acknowledge their shared responsibility in combating illicit trade in cigarette and tobacco products in the best interest of economic growth,” read a Sars statement. “Members who may be in contravention of the laws are encouraged to take corrective action through available avenues, including making full disclosure to Sars.”