Illegal cut tobacco is dangerous to the health of residents

In April, the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, in cooperation with cantonal administrations and other cantonal bodies responsible for conducting inspections related to illegal tobacco sales on streets and markets in the Federation of BiH, carried out 64 inspections, it was stated today at a press conference of FUZIP, which was also attended by Džejna Bajramović, marketing director of FDS and a member of the Management Board, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

- 51 reports were compiled, 20 misdemeanor orders were issued, 20 misdemeanor charges were filed, half a ton of illegal cut tobacco was seized, and 936 packs of cigarettes of various manufacturers were seized - it was announced.

Adis Ajdinović, head of the cabinet of the director of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, said that such tobacco, which is illegally sold in improvised packaging, without manufacturer, origin, and quality markings, poses a great risk to users.

- Its quality is not controlled, neither as leaf tobacco nor as cut tobacco. The tobaccos have not undergone the fermentation phase, i.e., exposure to high temperatures. The moistening, cutting, and packaging of cut tobacco are carried out in improvised warehouses, in unhygienic conditions, which means that cut tobacco is very susceptible and has the property of absorbing bad odors. Cut tobacco has not been subjected to any control in terms of nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, pesticides, heavy metals, microorganisms, and other harmful impurities found on tobacco leaves and other harmful ingredients that can be found in uncontrolled cultivation and in cut tobacco - said Ajdinović.

As highlighted, the total amount of illegal tobacco sold on the illegal market in BiH amounts to approximately 160,000 kg per month.

Ajdinović emphasized that consuming such tobacco seriously damages the health of consumers, as each of the mentioned heavy metals above the allowed limit is a potent poison for the body.

On the other hand, the problem with illegal tobacco also affects the business of the Sarajevo Tobacco Factory. As stated in the letter sent by FDS to state, federal, cantonal, and judicial institutions, "if urgent activities by all bodies and institutions in BiH are not initiated, there will be catastrophic consequences for the Sarajevo Tobacco Factory, for the health of BiH citizens, and it is particularly pointed out that this situation causes enormous damage to the budget of BiH."

- The loss in the BiH budget due to excise tax amounts to 12,800,000 KM, and due to VAT 2,906,000 KM, or a total of 15,700,000 KM per month - approximately 200,000,000 KM annually - states the FDS letter.