KOTA BARU: The National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (NKTB) has issued licences to 16,000 retailers to sell tobacco and related products including cigarettes.
NKTB director-general Idris Mohd Salleh said the licences were issued to the retailers operating in Penisular Malaysia.
"Beginning this year, the Plantation and Commodities Ministry has directed all retailers in the country to apply for a licence to sell or distribute cigarettes and other tobacco products.
'We (NKTB) have identified 60,000 retailers in the country who will benefit from the move. They were asked to apply for the licence so that they can sell the products legally.
"The fee for the licence this year is free and so far, about 16,000 retailers will receive the licences after applying online," he told reporters at the state NKTB's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Lundang today.
Idris added the licence, however, needed to be renewed each year.
He said the move was also to curb the illicit cigarettes trade.
He added the government would impose a fee for the licence when it is fully enforced next year.
"The amount of fees to be imposed to retailers next year has yet to be finalised," he added.
On another development, Idris said tobacco farmers in Kelantan and Terengganu have been slightly affected by the hot weather.
"Farmers in these two states are lucky as they had temporarily stopped farming earlier. Otherwise, they will suffer huge losses," he added.
#kw: tobacco, licence