烟草在线据《阿拉伯公报》报道编译　　埃及卫生部烟草控制部部长Sahar Labib透露，根据最新的估计数据，埃及目前有40至50个不同品牌的非法卷烟。这是官方的数据。

　　不过，非官方数据预计，在埃及市场公开销售的未纳税卷烟品牌超过100个，推动了埃及非法贸易市场的发展。埃及市场的非法卷烟份额显著增长，从2011年10月占市场12.5%的惊人数字，增长到现在估计占20%的市场份额。

　　此消息令埃及政府十分担忧，该政府仍在努力重建受到“阿拉伯之春”（译者注：指自2010年年底在北非和西亚的阿拉伯国家和其它地区的一些国家发生的一系列以“民主”和“经济”等为主题的反政府暴力运动。）影响的经济。非法品牌的流入在税收损失方面将对政府造成巨大损失。

　　促使非法卷烟品牌飙升的因素包括全国不断恶化的安全状况以及合法卷烟的卷烟税多次突然大幅的上涨。

　　菲莫埃及公司的总经理Ali Takish在对这种情况发表评论时说：“这些非法走私进入埃及的未付税卷烟，预计每年使埃及政府在税收收入方面损失40亿埃及镑。”

　　要有效解决这个问题，政府需要对国内卷烟采取更谨慎的税收政策、实施更有效的边境控制措施、并加强批发商和零售商方面的执法力度。

　　Ali Takish在强调卷烟非法贸易的惊人增长速度——尤其是近几个月的增长速度时说：“除非政府采取一项全面措施——包括立法方面和执法力度方面来打击这种现象，不然，埃及的烟草业就会处于非常危险的境地。”

评论：

　　纵览世界各国政府提高烟税的目的，主要是增加税收收入和减少烟草消费。不过，烟草税收是一把双刃剑，利用的好，则能达到预期的效果，如果没有估计实施的合理条件就贸然实施的话，则可能造成沉重的损失，实施之前要“三思而后行”。从埃及提税后的情况看，既没有增加税收收入，也没有减少烟草消费，唯一的好处是促进了非法卷烟的增长。目前，面对这种局面，埃及政府应深入分析出现问题的根源，才能有针对性地采取应对措施，从而化解出现的难题，促使制订的政策达到预期的目标。

Egypt Sees Increased Cigarette Smuggling

　　According to the latest estimates, there are currently 40 to 50 different brands of illicit cigarettes in Egypt, as revealed by Sahar Labib, Head of Egypt Health Ministry, Tobacco Control Department. This is an official figure.

　　However, unofficially it is estimated that over a hundred brands of non-tax paid cigarettes are openly sold in the Egyptian market, which is contributing to the development of the illicit trade market in Egypt. The incidence of illicit cigarettes in the Egyptian market has grown significantly from an already alarming figure of 12.5 percent of the market in October 2011 to an estimated 20 percent today.

　　The news is disturbing to the Government of Egypt which is still struggling to rebuild its economy affected by the Arab Spring. The influx of illicit brands is leading to significant losses for the government in terms of lost taxes and duties.

　　The factors that have contributed to the spike in the illegal cigarette brands include a deteriorating security situation across the country and a series of sudden and sharp taxes increases on legitimate cigarettes.

　　Commenting on the situation, Ali Takish, Managing Director of Philip Morris Egypt said;

　　'These cigarettes, which are illegally smuggled into Egypt without paying any taxes or duties, cost the Egyptian government an estimated EGP 4 billion pounds each year in lost tax revenues."

　　In the attempts to effectively address this issue, the government needs to adopt a more prudent tax policy on domestic cigarettes, implement more effective border control measures, and strengthen law enforcement at the wholesaler and retailer levels.

　　Ali Takesh highlighted the alarming growth of the illicit trade in cigarettes - particularly in the last few months, saying;

　　'Unless a comprehensive approach — including legislative and law enforcement - is adopted by the government to combat this phenomenon, the national tobacco industry remains at a great risk." Enditem