12th September 2024
- Commonwealth of Independent States: The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS, an intergovernmental organisation in Eurasia, consisting of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) has finished creating an action plan for all member states to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products on public health, media reports. Representatives from several member states have participated in a videoconference to discuss and make final edits to the plan. After the meeting, it was decided to get the plan approved domestically and then submit it to the CIS Council of Heads of Government for further review.
28th May 2024
- Azerbaijan: The parliament has adopted the amendment to the law “On Tobacco and Tobacco Products” in the third reading, media reports. It seeks to establish a procedure for registering business entities importing and producing tobacco products, as well as maintaining and regulating the register.
7th May 2024
- Azerbaijan: The draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Offences included in today’s parliamentary meeting agenda seeks to establish a fine for activities in the manufacturing of tobacco products without registration, media reports. Failure to register these activities in the way specified by the law “On Tobacco and Tobacco Products” will incur a fine of between AZN5,000 ($2,940) and AZN12,000 ($7,060).
24th April 2024
- Azerbaijan: Yesterday (23rd April), the parliament adopted the amendment to the law “On Tobacco and Tobacco Products” in the first reading, media reports. It seeks to establish a procedure for registering business entities importing and producing tobacco products, as well as maintaining and regulating the register.
8th April 2024
- Azerbaijan: The Parliament Committee on Agrarian Policy has discussed the amendment to the law “On Tobacco and Tobacco Products”, media reports. It seeks to establish a procedure for registering business entities importing and producing tobacco products, as well as maintaining and regulating the register. In addition, the introduction of an AZN150 ($88) fee to provide business entities with an extract from the register is planned.
19th January 2024
- Azerbaijan: Yesterday (18th January), at the meeting of the Parliament Committee on Labour and Social Policy, the chairman, Musa Guliyev, stated that the legislation around limiting tobacco use needs improving as cases of tobacco use by school children are currently being identified, media reports. Although the consumption of both vaping and tobacco products in educational institutions is banned, we believe that additional restrictions in such places could be proposed in the future.
9th January 2024
- Azerbaijan: The excise rate for disposable e-cigarettes has increased to AZN2 ($1.18) per unit, while the heated tobacco rate has increased from AZN14 ($8.25) to AZN16 ($9.40) per 1,000 units.
5th December 2023
- Azerbaijan: The National Assembly (parliament) has approved a draft amendment to the Tax Code in the third reading, which will increase excise taxes in Azerbaijan, media reports. If signed by the president, the rate for disposable e-cigs will increase from AZN0.25 ($0.15) to AZN2 ($1.18) per piece. The heated tobacco rate will increase from AZN14 ($8.25) to AZN16 ($9.40) per 1,000 units.
15th November 2023
- Azerbaijan: The National Assembly (parliament) has approved in the first reading a draft amendment to the Tax Code, which will increase excise taxes in Azerbaijan, media reports. The rate for disposable e-cigs will increase from AZN0.25 ($0.15) to AZN2 ($1.18) per piece. The heated tobacco rate will increase from AZN14 ($8.25) to AZN16 ($9.40) per 1,000 units.
2nd November 2023
- Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan seeks to increase excise taxes for heated tobacco products and disposable e-cigarettes in 2024, media reports. Reportedly, the rate for heated tobacco is to increase from AZN14.00 ($8.25) to AZN16.00 ($9.40) per 1,000 units. The disposable e-cigarette tax rate will increase from AZN0.25 ($0.15) to AZN2.00 ($1.18) per unit.
8th February 2023
Azerbaijan: President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order “On strengthening state control in the field of import and production of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages”, media reports. It instructs the economy ministry to submit proposals within six months for a gradual increase in excise rates on tobacco products.
3rd November 2022
- Azerbaijan: The country plans to reduce excise tax rates on several types of tobacco products, including chewing tobacco, by 26.7% starting next year, media reports. It is not yet clear if the possible reduction would also be applicable to heated tobacco products.