Author: Ricardo Rodríguez Silvero *

Source: UltimaHora.com - ECONOMÍA - 19/06/2010

Extraordinarily significant was the conjunction of knowledge and experiences in the last seminar on “Economic, Legal and Social Approaches to Tobacco Policies in Paraguay. Situation and prospects ”, which took place 15 years ago at the Hotel Cecilia in this capital, organized by the local organization Libre del Tabaco (LDT), referring to an international coalition of organizations focused on the protection of health, led regionally by the Tobacco Epidemic Research Center (CIET), Uruguay, with the Tobacco Control Alliance (ACT), Brazil.

The World Health Organization (WHO), with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations organization, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO regional workshop with representation in Paraguay, came from their same organizations research on tobacco consumption and derivatives in another country due to its serious consequences (addiction, cardiovascular, pulmonary and related illnesses like a lot of temprana). High-level directors at the local Ministry of Public Health and Social Biennial were present, among them Dr. Víctor San Martín.

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO CAMPAÑA AGAINST THE EPIDEMY OF TABAQUISMO. The opening of the event by Dr. Rubén Figueroa, the local representative of the WHO / PAHO, who was accompanied by Dr. Enrique Vázquez, coordinator of these topics in this last organization. I distinguished the seminar with the presence of the ingenious Gerónimo Bellasai, vice-minister of Taxation, and graduate Jorge Luis Gaona, director of Major Contributors.

The exhibitions were held by leading international experts, namely the economist Alejandro Ramos, director of Projects of CIET, Montevideo; economist Roberto Iglesias, ACT consultant, Río de Janeiro; the economist Hugo Vallarino, tax expert and former deputy director of Administration Tributaria del Uruguay and accountant Jorge Bonino, specialist in social communication and former deputy director of Information in the Presidency of that country. These professionals gave lectures on the topics mentioned in the title of the seminar, which were preceded by extensive investigations.

CONFIRMED. Tobacco has low impurities, high evasion, illicit trade and kills slowly. In the aforementioned exhibitions, updated contributions were made to learn more about the reality of tobacco in Paraguay, and to provide a solid basis for the formulation and the practice of public policies aimed at spreading their addictive and fatal effects, fighting illegal trade, improving it tax on tobacco, reduce evasion, and signal the importance of fulfilling and fulfilling the Framework Agreement for Tobacco Control (CMCT), converted locally into the national law No. 2969/06 (see previous columns on Saturdays in this month) daily).

Among the numerous aspects addressed by the specialists, the following can be highlighted:

? The effective tax rate on tobacco and tobacco products in the market is 17% in our country and represents, according to the traditional local quantification of gross domestic product, only 0,3%. When the GDP calculation method is correct, this percentage will be less. Both indicators are very low compared to the countries of the region, sentenced by Hugo Vallarino.

? The illegal cigarette trade between Paraguay and Brazil is huge, confirmed with new data Roberto Iglesias. It abounded with current information on the topic, explaining why Paraguay represents 10% of the global illicit trade in this product and the origin of the largest contraband in Brazil. And I exhorted bilateral cooperation between both countries: problems and common solutions.

? Alejandro Ramos señaló with new quantitative approaches to the magnitude of production and local distribution of cigarettes and cigarettes, as well as the respective international trade (imports and exports). It is indicated that a 100% increase in tobacco taxes would only generate an increase of 11% in price and a drop in demand of only 5%, so that the sanitary objectives can be achieved only in the broad plains. Therefore, it is imperative to start as soon as possible to adjust the case.

? Finally, Jorge Bonino highlighted the international experience recognized in promoting tobacco and tobacco products through modern means of social communication. Your advertising is centered on providing satisfaction (flavor, freshness, smoothness, etc.), reassuring smokers about risks for health, and establishing relationships between smoking habits and certain stereotypes you want (independence, social success, sexual attraction, beauty, etc.) ), thereby hiding the harmful effects on health.

(*) RS & Awww.rodriguezsilvero.com.pytelefax (592 21) 612-912