Govt considers licensing second tobacco manufacturer

Tobacco and cigarettes. Photo: Flickr

A new tobacco manufacturing licence could soon be approved by the authorising authority, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, on behalf of the Government.

In an exclusive interview with SIBC, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Tenneth Dalipanda said the new tobacco manufacturing applicant is Oceanic Oasis.

The foreign company is already operating in the country, Dr Dalipanda said.

Oceanic Oasis currently operates on a tobacco importer’s licence, but it wants to move into tobacco manufacturing.

“They applied, so once they take their licence, in my view, they’d like to start right away,” Dr Dalipanda said.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will not issue a licence to the applicant unless it meets minimum requirements under the Tobacco Act, he said.

If licensed, Oceanic Oasis will be the second tobacco manufacturer in Solomon Islands and bring the total of tobacco businesses in the country to three.

By Leni Dalavera

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