On World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, PMI India, the affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), reaffirmed its commitment to breaking the illicit tobacco trade network through stronger regulatory partnerships and technological solutions. The move supports India’s rollout of the pack-level Track and Trace (T&T) system, which aims to protect government revenue, secure product integrity, and contain the informal tobacco economy.
With nearly 120 million tobacco users, India is the fourth-largest illegal cigarette market globally, where smuggled cigarettes account for about 25% of domestic sales. PMI executives highlighted how illicit trade threatens national security, public health, and fair trade. The company brings global expertise in deploying T&T systems across over 140 countries including the EU, UK, and GCC nations.
Navaneel Kar, MD of IPM India, called T&T a “transformative leap in enforcement and transparency,” while Rodney Van Dooren stressed India’s leadership potential in curbing cross-border smuggling across the Asia-Pacific. Where porous borders have made the city vulnerable to illicit inflows, local retailers are optimistic. Authorities there report that unregulated tobacco severely disrupts the formal market, hurting small traders and consumers alike. The new system could restore balance and protect legitimate businesses in the region.
