Tanzania Tobacco Board

The Tanzania Tobacco Board is a crop regulatory body established under the Tobacco Industry Act No. 24 of 2001 (as amended by Crop Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act No. 20 of 2009). The main regulatory responsibilities of the Board asmandated by Section five (5) of the aforementioned legislation are:

1. Formulation, implementation and enforcement of policies, guidelines and standards aimed at regulating and improving the performance of the tobacco industry in Tanzania;
2. Provision of advice to the Minister responsible for Agriculture and Government in general on all matters related to the tobacco Industry; and
3. Promotion and development of a conducive environment for effective and fair competition for all stakeholders in the tobacco industry.

Vision

Excellence in the provision of regulatory, advisory, and promotional services for the tobacco industry.

Mission

To render timely and quality services to tobacco growers and tobacco traders in terms of registration, technical bark stopping, and facilitation of private sector contribution in the tobacco industry for enhanced and sustainable growth for the sector’s and country’s benefits.

Principal Activities

The main activities of the Board are developing, promoting, and regulating the tobacco industry in Tanzania.

History of Tobacco Board

The history of the Tobacco Board goes back to the 1960s when the government established the Tanganyika Tobacco Board. In 1970, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania established the Tobacco Authority of Tanzania (TAT). TAT was transformed in 1984 to become the Tanzania Tobacco Processing and Marketing Board.

In the year 1993, the Tobacco Processing and Marketing Board was restructured to become the Tanzania Tobacco Board (TTB) following the privatisation of the tobacco sector, which reached its peak in 1997 when Tobacco Board activities were to be financed by the government. The current Board comes into operation after the enactment of the Tobacco Industry Act, 24 of 2001, in accordance with the Tobacco Industry Act, No. 24 of 2001, as amended in 2009.

Our Legal Mandate

In carrying out its responsibilities,Tanzania Tobacco Board has been given the following legal mandates:

1. Monitoring the performance of the private sector whose role is mainly commercial to ensure that it operates in accordance with the tobacco industry legislation and other relevant policies of the country.
2. Promoting collaboration between the private and public sectors for the implementation of shared functions.
3. Preparing technical recommendations to the government on the tobacco policy issues in order to raise the industry’s contribution to the country’s development.

Also, in accordance with Tobacco Industry Act No. 24 of 2001, the Board has the following powers:

1. To register or license tobacco growers, sellers, and processors.
2. To issue licenses to tobacco buyers, sellers, and processors.
3. To grant licenses for export or importation of tobacco from or into Tanzania.
4. To appoint inspectors for the inspection of tobacco premises or any other facility that may be inspected for the better carrying out any of the provisions of the Act.