Nowadays politics fight with tobacco producers. For example, in July smoking in prisons will be banned. But now, duty free tobacco production is under review. It includes cigarettes, cigars, flavored tobacco, lighter, etc.
The anti-smoking lobby group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) says the black-market is fuelled by tobacco brought in by international travelers and it should stop.
Statistics by group Action on Smoking and Health shows that US black market is full of counterfeit tobacco. Examination shows that it is brought by international travelers from duty free market in airports, rail stations and other types of vehicles.
A long time duty free goods were a good motivation for long-distance travel. But now the new law force to take tax-free tobacco from shelves of duty free market.
One of national news channels has made an investigation to show people the truth. The investigation showed that the biggest part of illegal cigarette in New Zealand comes from duty free markets.
Usually travelers are allowed to bring maximum 10 packets of cigarettes into the country.
The law to ban duty free tobacco production is not yet signed. But it is already being in consideration.
Singapore and Honk Kong is already on free tobacco way. They have signed a law to ban duty free tobacco market.
But New Zealand has also signed Customs conventions requiring us to allow tax-free tobacco in.
"People are able to buy duty-free goods anywhere, on the plane, on the exit point of wherever they're leaving. So why would New Zealand sign up to that if airlines were going to continue to sell cigarettes on board?" Prime Minister John Key questions.
But with no deadline on our international agreement, there's no telling what tobacco's shelf-life is in airports
