ABOUT US

The trade in counterfeit cigarettes is a growing global problem for the tobacco industry. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) estimate that the global illicit trade market equated to 10.7% of the total world cigarette market or 600 billion cigarettes. In 2004, the World Customs Organisation stated that cigarettes, after fine leather goods, were ranked second in terms of the most seized counterfeit articles.

By distorting legitimate markets, not only does illicit traffic in cigarettes harm the interests of cigarette manufacturers and their stakeholders, but it can damage companies' market share for genuine brands, and the inferior quality can also significantly damages consumers' brand perceptions.

Filtrona Filter Products follows the policy that we will not trade with organisations engaged in the counterfeit cigarette market.

The Filtrona plc anti-counterfeiting policy is as follows:

"We will not knowingly trade with companies or individuals if we are aware of actual proof of their involvement in the production or sales of counterfeit products or where there is a reasonable body of evidence to suggest that they are involved in counterfeit trade."

Mark Harper
Chief Executive, Filtrona plc