烟草在线据《商业镜报》报道编译　　菲律宾国家烟草管理局（NTA）计划在进口烟草产品于该国市场销售之前，征收额外的费用。

　　这一计划出现在《2013年003号备忘录通函》草案当中，非政府组织“经济改革行动”（AER）有一份该草案的副本。

　　“部分规定要求对进口烟草产品的销售商和分销商征收许可费用，最低100比索，最高则与之前征收的许可费用相同，为600比索，”经济改革行动组织表示。

　　“此外，《备忘录》还要额外征收评估费用，而这一评估机制，对进口卷烟来说，已经是多余的，”该组织补充道。

　　经济改革行动组织表示，国家烟草管理局宣称，计划实施的政策将会阻止进口卷烟产品的走私、造假和非法贸易行为，“在适当的监督、监测和管理下，保护公共消费者和吸烟者。”

　　“然而，事实却与此相反，我们认为，上述提案不可告人的目的，只是为了延续歧视性的制度，以使得国内卷烟生产商获益，”经济改革行动组织说道。

　　该组织表示，征收评估费用，并对进口卷烟实行“多余的”评估监测程序，并不会制止烟草产品的走私。

　　该组织警告道，这一举措具有“歧视性”，将会违反菲律宾的国际贸易规则，特别是禁止利用国内收费或征税以惠及国内相关行业的《海关贸易总协定》。

　　“我们向国家烟草管理局提出质疑，要求他们证明意图抑制非法卷烟贸易的这一规定的合法性，并证明此举并非仅仅是利用《2013年003号备忘录通函》的规定，延续对国外产品的歧视，”该组织表示。

　　从“烟草控制的角度”，该组织敦促农业部的附属相关机构重新修订备忘录，并将计划实施的措施覆盖到所有卷烟产品。

　　经济改革行动组织表示，对进口卷烟和国产卷烟征收相同的评估和管理费用，才能降低烟草产品的销量，并使公众渐渐远离它们。

Philippines: NTA Eyes More Fees for Imported Tobacco Products

　　The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is proposing to impose additional fees before allowing the sale and distribution of imported tobacco products in the country.

　　This is contained in the draft Memorandum Circular 003 Series of 2013, a copy of which was obtained by non-governmental Action for Economic Reforms (AER).

　　"As part of the requirements, sellers and distributors of imported tobacco products will be levied a license fee that amounts from P100 to P600 on top of the license fee previously levied," AER said.

　　"In addition, the said memorandum imposes additional evaluation fees for what is already a redundant inspection mechanism on imported cigarette products," the group added.

　　AER said the NTA claims that the proposed policy will prevent smuggling, counterfeiting and illicit trading of imported tobacco products "through proper supervision, monitoring and regulation in order to protect the consumer/smoking public."

　　"On the contrary, however, we contend that the ulterior objective for the said proposal is only to perpetuate a discriminatory system that favors domestic cigarette producers," AER said.

　　The group said raising the evaluation fee and imposing "redundant" evaluation procedures on imported cigarettes will not stop the smuggling of tobacco products.

　　The group also warned that the move is "discriminatory" and will violate the country's commitment to international trade rules, specifically the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade which prohibits the use of internal fees or taxes to favor the domestic industry.

　　"We challenge the NTA to prove the legitimacy of its intention to curb illicit cigarette trade, and not merely perpetuate discrimination against foreign product through the proposed measures under Memorandum 003-2013," AER said.

　　From a "tobacco-control perspective," the group urged the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture to revise the memo and apply the proposed measures to all cigarettes.

　　AER said uniformly imposing higher evaluation and regulatory fees on both foreign-made and domestically produced cigarettes will discourage the sale of tobacco products and make them less accessible to the public. Enditem