The primary objective of the workshop is to support Mongolia’s ongoing efforts to amend its tobacco control law and how tobacco taxation reform can contribute to the reduction of tobacco use prevalence and protect the youth from the harms of tobacco use. The impact of tobacco tax increases on different sectors of the economy, health outcomes and the general population must be understood through rigorous modeling and evidence-based approaches.
The workshop will be an opportunity for Mongolian officials and WHO experts to exchange views and address critical issues. Specifically, the workshop would have the following objectives:
· Common understanding and approach. Develop a common understanding among Mongolian government officials and WHO experts on the role of tobacco taxation in reducing tobacco use in Mongolia, assess the current tax structure, its strengths and weaknesses and develop reform options going forward.
·Build Capacity: Build and strengthen the capacity of government officials, particularly from finance, customs, health and Office of the Parliament to have the knowledge and tools necessary to develop a tobacco tax simulation model tailored to specific circumstances of Mongolia . Such a tax simulation model would assess the revenue and public health impact of reform options identified by the Mongolian participants.
·Inform Policy Development and Strengthen Collaboration: Provide evidence to guide policymakers in making informed decisions for the upcoming amendment to the Tobacco control law and Excise Tax Law in Mongolia; and foster collaboration between government bodies, and international tobacco tax experts in developing an integrated tobacco control policy.
