مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - A Model Proposal for Illicit Roll Your Own Tobacco Market and its Legalization in Turkey

Abstract :

After taxes levied on tobacco products have been increased especially as of 2010, it is estimated that illicit market of roll your own tobacco, which is produced mainly in Adıyaman, Diyarbakır and Bitlis provinces, has reached a size of 14% of legal cigarette market. The main aim of this study is to determine the situation of production and illicit trade of roll your own tobacco and the size of its market, the methods using for supplying of tobacco to the market, to identify contribution of the production and illicit trade of roll your own tobacco to the economics of Celikhan district of Adiyaman province and its sustainability. The basis of the study is consisted of authentic data gained by way of conducting survey and face to face interviews. The survey is conducted by using purposive sampling method with 120 tobacco growers in 12 production points. As a result of the study, although there are large number of findings, it is ascertained that increases in special consumption tax levied on tobacco products are the main reason of the problem. In this regard, it is determined that special consumption tax levied on roll your own tobacco product should be reduced, the restrictive provisions provided for in the legislation of roll your own tobacco product should be amended and various financial incentives should be provided by the state institutions for sustainable rolling tobacco production, establishing production facility and marketing considering the fact that Celikhan and similar production areas are Turkey-specific values.