Finance Ministry reconciles with cigarette producers

The cigarette producers will no longer have to pay the contribution to the healthcare fund as of July 1, while the price of the stamps will be 35% lower for three months and then this obligation will be dropped, sources close to the negotiations between the companies and the Finance Ministry said. The representatives of the cigarette producers in Romania on Monday continued the talks over raising the tobacco excises started with Finance minister Mihai Tanasescu last week. The producers requested the commitments agreed upon in February to be kept. It is about a 3 euro rise in excises, on condition that the companies should no longer have to pay the contribution to the healthcare fund (2% of the total receipts), the contribution to the environment fund – 1.5% and the cost of the stamps, i.e. 465 ROL a piece. The parties agreed during the negotiations to have the healthcare fund dropped and the Finance Ministry bear the cost of the stamps as of October, the quoted sources added. Until such time comes, the companies will pay some 300 ROL per stamp, 35% less than they do now. ZF