Kyrgyz Republic: Tobacco Facts. Source: Richard Peto etc Mortality from smoking in developed countries,

Transcription

1 Kyrgyz Republic: Tobacco Facts 1. Tobacco is one of only two major causes of death worldwide that are still increasing: the other is infection with human immunodeficiency virus HIV-AIDS. At current smoking trends, globally there will be about 1 million tobacco deaths over the next 2 years, mostly adults who already smoke. Smoking already takes a heavy toll in Kyrgyz Republic. In tobacco was responsible of 3662 deaths (12 percent of all deaths) - up from 2566 deaths (8 percent of all deaths) in Total number of smoking attributed deaths and % of total deaths in selected Central Asian Countries % 2% % 12% Source: Richard Peto etc Mortality from smoking in developed countries, Half of all deaths among smokers will occur in middle-age, with a loss of 2-25 years of life. In Kyrgyz Republic in, tobacco caused 19 percent of all deaths; 3 percent of all cancer deaths, 78 percent of all chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths, and 35 percent of vascular disease deaths among men and women aged years. Kyrgyzstan Kazakstan Uzbekistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan 6% 4% 3% 6% 3 Smoking Attributed Deaths for Selected Causes in Kyrgyz Republic Number of SM-Attributed deaths % 48% 16% 24% 58% All deaths all cancer COPD Vascular

2 Source: Richard Peto etc Mortality from smoking in developed countries, There are no current data for smoking prevalence in Kyrgyz Republic, but in 1979, in Bishkek, 72 percent of men aged 2-29 years smoked, and 48 percent of men aged 5-6 years smoked. 4. Globally about 3 million children and youth alive today will eventually be killed by tobacco. In Bishkek, in 1979, 5 to 6 percent of 14 to 16 year old boys were tobacco users. It is reported that children begin to use tobacco from the age of 6 or 7. Currently, in most developing countries, not more than 5 to 1 percent of women smoke, but in percent of 2-29 year old women in Kyrgyz Republic were smokers. And underreporting is likely if cultural restrictions make it unacceptable for women to admit that they smoke. 5. Cigarette consumption in Kyrgyz Republic declined from 199 to 1998, but still remains very high at 7 packs per capita (for people over 15) in The fact that the decline seems to have stopped is of great concern. Strong efforts are needed to achieve further declines in consumption, and prevent increases in consumption in the near future that could result from aggressive marketing and promotion. Marketfile, a commercial firm that analyses tobacco markets, predicts a possible increase of 14 percent to 79 packs/capita in 21. Pack of 2 cigarettes Cigarette Consumption per capita of 15+ age in Selected Central Asia Countries in Source: World Bank calculation, Azerbaijan Kyrgyz Republic Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Tajikistan 55

3 pack of 2 per 15+ age population Cigarette Consumption in Kyrgyz Republic * Source: USDA, and MarketFile database 6. Kyrgyz Republic has one of the lowest excise taxes on tobacco in Central Asia. In 1999, the excise tax per pack of 2 cigarette was three US cents for filtered cigarettes and less than one US cent for non-filtered cigarettes. Tobacco products are subject to 2% VAT. Excise tax per pack of 2 cigarettes in selected Central Asian Countries in 1999 Tax/pack US $ Kyrgyz Rep. Tajikistan Kazakstan Turkmenistan Source: IMF unpublished database 7. On 15 th January 1996 a new form of excise stamp was introduced for cigarettes in an attempt to combat trade in smuggled cigarettes. Smuggling is thought to be a sizeable problem, accounting for an estimated 23 percent of total consumption in / Excise tax revenues were only 15 percent of total revenues in Tobacco tax revenues contributed 12 percent of all excise tax revenues in 1998, 17% in 1999.

4 Tobacco tax revenues contributed 2 percent of total tax revenues in Kyrgyz Republic in 1998, increasing to 4 percent in The share of tobacco excise tax revenue in other revenues in Kyrgyz Republic % share 2% 1 1% % 17% 12% 4% 2% % of excises % of tax revenues % of total revenue Source: IMF and the World Bank unpublished data 9. Most of the tobacco produced in Kyrgyz Republic is grown around Osh, Jalabad and the Talas Oblast. Most of Kyrgyz Republic s foreign currency earnings from tobacco are from tobacco leaf exports. In, tobacco leaf exports were worth US$ 21.6 million down from US $ 35 million in 1994 due to bad weather conditions which reduced production. Available data suggest that imports of tobacco leaf started in (US$ 7 thousand) and cigarettes were first imported in 1993 (US$ 13 thousand). In, Kyrgyz Republic earned US $ 977 thousand from cigarette exports and spent US $ 889 thousand on cigarettes imports. Million US$ Tobacco export and import values in Kyrgyz Republic, Net tobacco trade earnings Export Import Source: FAO Trade database 1997

5 Tobacco Control Measures: 1. Although there was considerable tobacco control activity in Kyrgyz Republic before the break up of the Soviet Union, in the mid-199s there was relatively little activity, and tobacco control was not a high Government or public priority. 11. Smoking prevention is included as part of health education for schoolchildren, and is included in the curricula for health workers at all levels. 12. There is no formal law against tobacco advertising, and very little regulation. In, there was little advertisement of tobacco in mass media (except on Russian television channels), but it is likely that this will increase with the presence of tobacco multinationals. Indirect advertising of tobacco also exists. Tobacco packs carry a health warning, but do not indicate nicotine and tar content. 13. In , sales were prohibited to persons younger than 16, but this was not enforced after. Single sales of cigarettes are permitted, and it is possible to buy cigarettes from street vendors. 14. However, smoking is banned on domestic flights, on public transport, in cinemas and theatres, health care institutions, schools (including colleges and universities) and some work places. There are voluntary restrictions in most other public places.