From April, only one packet of duty-free cigarettes will be allowed.
Hebrew daily "Ma'ariv" reports that the Ministry of Finance has halved the duty-free allowance for cigarettes: from April, passengers returning from overseas will be allowed only 125 grams of duty-free tobacco products, equal to one packet of cigarettes.
The Israel Tax Authority says that the measure will cancel the current limit of two packets of duty-free cigarettes per passenger, and will generate NIS 150 million a year in revenues.
"There is no reason in world for Israel to subsidize cigarettes, especially for people able to travel abroad. This is not the social justice that the public wants," said a top Tax Authority official.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 29, 2013
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