300m euros in tobacco spend Kosovars within the year

97% of the amount of tobacco in our country is packed and ready for consumption while the import of tobacco sheets is small.

That is how the Adriatic Stavileci, which says within the last 10 years in our country, the annual average import of tobacco, reportedly totals about 300 thousand tonnes.

The real import of tobacco in Kosovo in one year is about 3,000 tons, there are years when we have 2700 or 2700, but an average annual in the last 10 years is about 3,000 tons. In 2019 we had about 28,000 tons. In 2020, perhaps even because of pandemic, it was the only product not affected by import or import, that is, in the same amount, actually imported so far. up to 700 tons”, he says.

While talking about the import of tobacco, he says he has very little import of tobacco sheets.

“Duhan that is introduced in Kosovo 97% is packed for immediate consumption, until we have very little import of tobacco sheets, mainly we have a problem with what has even been smuggling tobacco sheets, but at minimum, non-relevant financial levels”, he said.

The Kosovar Centre for Avokim and Development (KADC) has conducted research on the level of exposure to tobacco smoke and citizens' attitudes regarding tobacco control policies in Kosovo, where it proves that the exposure of citizens to tobacco smoke is huge (81.4%) in bars, cafes and restaurants. While in the workplace exposure to tobacco smoke is lower (27%) and home over 30%.

Research results have shown a high level of popular support for tobacco control measures, where 84.7% of them have indicated in favour of stopping smoking in bars, cafes and restaurants and 98.5% in favour of stopping smoking in public institutions.

Organization Manager KDC, Arben Lila, tells KosovaPress that 37.7% of the population in our country consumes tobacco, while stressing that over 80% of citizens are against smoking at work.

“37.7 % of the population smokes, out of them over 45% male and female about 30% ...Over 80% of citizens are in favour of tobacco control policies, that is, against exposure to tobacco smoke. Also, they favour a ban on smoking in the workplace, in public institutions. After that we have wanted to see how satisfied citizens are with the work of responsible authorities and it has turned out that Kosovo citizens are very unhappy with their work, 4.2% are satisfied, over 90% not satisfied with their work”, Lila says.

Among other things, he says their organisation, along with the MSH, has drafted drafts of the directive, which regulates the issue of health remarks with photographs, but, as he says, this directive is staying closed in the ministries' drawers.

For against that the tobacco control law from 2016 says that in the tobacco packages there must be illustrative photos, we our organization in cooperation with MS, we have drafted a draft of the guide, which mandates and regulates the issue of health remarks with photographs. But this administrative directive has remained closed in the cabinets of ministers, none of them have signed it because of the major influence of the tobacco industry on the largest political instance”, he said.

With this research, Lila says she claims to influence the government and authorities responsible for law enforcement.

“The findings of this research should serve the government and authorities responsible for law enforcement, because in this research it is seen that the support of citizens for law enforcement is enormous and disgruntled with the work of responsible authorities and favouring the ban on smoking in public places”, Lila says.

Within the last 5 months, about 700 tonnes of tobacco have entered Kosovo.