Study Reveals 96% of Moroccan Cigarettes Exceed Legal Tar Limits

The government is facing the problem of cigarette compliance with legal standards, which require specific dosages, particularly 10 mg of tar, 1 mg of nicotine and 10 mg of carbon monoxide.

In the event of a reduction in dosage, the repercussions would be considerable on sales, and consequently on tax revenues. It is highly unlikely that the Moroccan consumer will accept lower doses even if he is fully aware that this is dangerous for his health.

Due to strong competition, foreign importers are not willing to align with the required standards, while the SMT is lagging far behind in the process of adjusting its production tools and investing in Research and Development.

In principle, legal standards should be respected by both local producers and importers. However, some operators are seeking to completely cancel these standards, as this represents a real dilemma.