Excise duties on cut tobacco introduced, price increase to follow

After a break, the session of the House of Peoples continued, and Halid Genjac took the floor, stating that consultations had been held and that the law could be considered on the Proposal for Amendments to the Law on Excise Duties under an urgent procedure. The urgent procedure was adopted, and Genjac stated during the debate on the law that much has been said about the need to adopt this law, reports the reporter of the BiH News Agency Patria.

Borjana Krišto stated that she abstained when it came to the procedure and that she does not think this law is good.

- Many have switched to tobacco due to price increases, and with this, we are equating the prices of cigarettes and tobacco. I do not see how this law could contribute to savings. This law is a blow to the areas where tobacco is produced. I will be against this law - Krišto said.

Nevertheless, after the vote, this law was adopted, as was Genjac's conclusion to monitor the impact of this law on economic indicators and to see the effects of this law.

Before the break, which was declared due to a religious ceremony, a heated debate was held regarding the conclusion of delegate Mehmed Bradarić, which was also adopted, stating that delegates, at the request of the Council of Ministers, would consider the Proposal for Amendments to the Law on Excise Duties in BiH under an urgent procedure, reports the reporter of the BiH News Agency Patria.

Delegates argued most about the commas mentioned in the conclusion. Among other things, some claimed that these commas were an obstacle to voting on this law today, even though the conclusion clearly states that.

Otherwise, this draft law was not on today's agenda because it could not get the approval of the Collegium, but it was included by Bradarić's conclusion, writes NAP.

Halid Genjac, an SDA delegate, pointed out to the delegates that this law is of exceptional importance due to the IMF tranche and that no commas should stand in the way of adopting this proposal.