英美烟草公司撤销在日本的提价计划

    在一项不寻常的行动中，英美烟草日本公司3月15日表示，它已经撤销了上个月提交给日本财政部的提高其卷烟价格的申请。在最近日本政府要求在公共场所实施禁烟令之后，这个日本第三大烟草销售商撤销了提价申请。如果公共场所禁烟令得到执行的话，有可能会引起烟草需求跳水。

    在2月末的时候，日本卫生部发布了不具约束力的指示，敦促日本各地方政府向彻底的公共场所禁烟令努力，以帮助减少与被动吸烟有关的健康危险。

    英美烟草日本公司原计划从6月1日开始，将包括建牌在内的其全部50个卷烟品牌的价格每包提高20日元，但要得到财政部的批准。

    在宣布撤销提价申请的时候，英美烟草日本公司说，它暂时还需要看一看烟草市场的发展趋势。

    在本月（3月）早些时候，日本财政部批准了日本第二大烟草销售商菲利普莫里斯日本公司提交的从6月1日开始，将万宝路等卷烟品牌的价格每包提高20日元的申请。

    British American Tobacco withdraws planned tobacco price hikes

    Kyodo News

    Tuesday 16th March

    TOKYO — In an unusual move, British American Tobacco Japan Ltd said Monday it has withdrawn its application filed with the Finance Ministry last month to raise the prices of its cigarette brands. The third-largest seller of tobacco in Japan withdrew the application following recent calls by the government for smoking bans in public places which, if implemented, could cause demand for tobacco to plunge.

    In late February, the health ministry issued a nonbinding instruction urging local governments across Japan to work toward a total smoking ban in public places to help reduce health risks linked to passive smoking.

    Subject to Finance Ministry approval, BAT Japan had planned to raise prices of all of its 50 cigarette brands, including Kent, by 20 yen per pack from June 1.

    In announcing the withdrawal of its application, the company said it needed to watch trends in the tobacco market for the time being.

    Earlier this month, the Finance Ministry approved an application filed by Philip Morris Japan KK, the second-largest seller of tobacco in Japan, to raise prices of its cigarette brands, including Marlboro, by 20 yen per pack from June 1.