License for Tobacco Production in Georgia Delayed
A law passed last year made tobacco production a licensed activity. Companies had to pay 50,000 GEL (around $13,500 USD) for the license.
The new rules also required companies to set up specialized laboratories to test tobacco products. However, many of the necessary equipment cannot be found in Georgia.
Setting up these labs is taking longer than expected. Companies need time and money to find the right equipment from abroad and install it.
Because of this, Parliament has proposed a 9-month delay. The original deadline was January 1, 2025. It will now be January 1, 2026.