ITC is in the process of hiking prices of some of its cigarette brands. Distributors and dealers claim that the new packs with higher prices will hit the market in a few days. In the premium category (Classic) the price hike is 13 percent.
On May 5, ITC had said it has shut down its production till the time it is able to comply with “interim requirements†of 85 per cent pictorial warnings.
Currently, foreign direct investment (FDI) is prohibited in manufacturing tobacco. However, what DIPP is also considering a ban in technology collaboration. It will mean including the licensing of franchises as well as brand name in management contract and in case of Godfrey Phillips this regards with the brand name of Marlboro.
The Kolkata-headquartered firm had suspended manufacturing at all its five cigarette factories saying there was a lack of clarity in policy regarding printing of larger pictorial warnings on the packets. All other cigarette manufacturers had taken similar decisions.