Smoking in Morocco
There has been an upwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Morocco. In 2000 the overall prevalence was estimated to be 19%; this increased to 23% by 2015, with a projection to increase to 28% by 2025. This increase in prevalence has been driven solely by men's smoking, which increased from 34% to 47% between 2000 and 2015, and is projected to increase further to 57.5% by 2025 according to WHO trend data. By contrast, women's smoking during the same period decreased from 4% in 2000 to less than 1% in 2015, and is projected to reduce to less than 0.5% by 2025. The WHO published prevalence trend estimates in tobacco smoking, as shown here, in their 2018 2nd edition report, which show slightly different smoking prevalence to the WHO country profiles. Data for the estimates are not age standardised, and were obtained from WHO databases. The trend lines are projections, not predictions, of future attainment. A projection indicates a likely endpoint if the country maintains its tobacco control efforts at the same level that it has implemented them to date. Therefore the impact of recent interventions could alter the expected endpoint shown in the projection. While the methods of estimation used in the first and second editions of the WHO report are the same, the volume of data available for the second edition is larger i.e. 200 more national surveys. The results presented are therefore more robust.
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March 29, 2024 by moroccoworldnews.com
Moroccan Health Minister Vows Action to Tackle Teen E-Cigarette Epidemic
Morocco’s Minister of Health Khalid Aït Taleb has sounded the alarm on the rising trend of e-cigarette use among the country’s teenagers. Responding to a written question posed by the parliamentary member of the Justice and Development Party, Mustapha Ibrahim, Aït Taleb emphasized the urgent need to address this pressing public health concern. He cited data from a national study conducted in 2021, revealing that teenage girls aged 15 to 17 are the largest demographic of e-cigarette users, with a rate of 5%. Even among boys of the same age group, e-cigarette usage remains significant, standing at 2%.
October 23, 2023 by moroccoworldnews.com
Morocco to Hike Import Duties on E-Cigarettes
Rabat - Morocco is set to increase customs duties on e-cigarettes under the new 2024 budget. The import duties would be applicable to disposable electronic cigarettes from 2.5% to 40%, according to the presentation note for this project. The increase aims to apply the same import duty rate to disposable electronic cigarettes as that applied to other electronic cigarettes for the fiscal year 2023, as stated in the note published on the Ministry of Economy and Finance website.
January 31, 2023 by moroccoworldnews.com
Can Morocco Crack Down on Smoking in Public?
Rabat - Despite a decline among younger generations, smoking remains prominent across Morocco, with recent studies showing that nearly a quarter of men in the country are regular smokers.
The economic and health cost of tobacco have been well-documented for decades. Lung cancer is the most well-known side effect of smoking, but its economic cost and manufacturing circumstances have also come under the spotlight lately.
There remains one major issue, however, that despite efforts remains endemic according to many in the country: secondhand smoke.
November 11, 2022 by moroccoworldnews.com
Morocco’s Government Approves Tax Raise on Shisha, E-Cigarettes
Morocco is preparing to increase taxes on waterpipes, commonly known as “shisha” and electronic cigarettes over concerns for public health.
Morocco’s Finance and Economic Development Committee reportedly approved the new round of taxes on Wednesday following a vote. The tax means that for every kilo of shisha smoking material, consumers would have to pay MAD 675 ($63).
To impose the new tax, the government first voted to introduce an amendment to the Finance Bill of 2023 that aims to extend the tax base to include shisha without tobacco, and electronic cigarettes.
September 08, 2021 by moroccoworldnews.com
Morocco Sets New Tar, Nicotine, Carbon Monoxide Levels in Cigarettes
Rabat - Council of Government adopted a draft decree setting the maximum levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes. The Moroccan Government Council meeting held this Monday adopted draft decree law No. 2.21.235, regulating the maximum rates of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes.
This draft decree comes as an implementation of Article 25 of Law No. 46.02 pertaining to raw and manufactured tobacco.
The law stipulates the mandatory inclusion of the percentages of carbon monoxide, in addition to data related to the percentages of tar and nicotine on each package of manufactured tobacco.
February 26, 2021 by reuters.com
Morocco set to legalise cannabis production for medical use
Morocco plans to allow the farming, export and domestic sale of cannabis for medical and industrial use, the government said on Thursday, a move it hopes will help impoverished farmers in the Rif mountains amid a growing legal global market for the drug. [...] The bill, which the cabinet is expected to approve next week, aims to improve farmers’ incomes, protect them from drug traffickers who now control the trade in cannabis and gain access to the booming legal international market for the drug.
January 06, 2021 by moroccoworldnews.com
Morocco Announces Increase in Cigarettes Prices
Morocco announced further increase in the prices of cigarettes, starting January 1. The list shows major increases in popular brands, including Camel, Marlboro, and Winston. The Moroccan Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration circulated a notice on December 24 on the decision. The government published the notice in the Official Gazette on December 31. The increases also concerned rolled tobacco and molasses used in hookahs, as well as cigars. The prices are up by 2 dirhams in some brands, while others experienced higher increases.