The Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy Committee, in the first reading and under an accelerated procedure, reviewed and endorsed the draft amendments to the Law of Georgia on Tobacco Control. The bill was presented during the committee session by Mariam Lashkhi, First Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee and one of the bill’s initiators.
According to Lashkhi, as of 1 April 2025, regulations requiring the standardised packaging of tobacco products have come into force in Georgia. These rules govern packaging colour, inscriptions, and markings and currently apply to cigarillos as well. However, unlike other tobacco products, cigarillos are largely handmade. Therefore, applying standardised packaging requirements to cigarillos is technically complex and economically impractical.
“Importers have encountered serious issues with manufacturers. Given the small volume demanded by the Georgian market, producing and printing new packaging is not economically viable for producers, who are therefore refusing to manufacture the products. This situation negatively affects the state budget of Georgia", - M. Lashkhi stated.
She noted that the Business Ombudsman’s Office submitted a substantiated position to the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, confirming the necessity of the amendment for the business sector. Lashkhi further highlighted that in most EU countries where standardised cigarette packaging is enforced, exemptions have been made for cigarillos and similar products.
As noted during the session, if adopted, the amendments would subject cigarillos to the same legal norms as cigarettes. The mandatory standardisation of packaging would no longer apply to cigarillos, simplifying the production process, reducing additional costs for importers, and improving revenue flows to the state budget.
