The Ministry of Finance approved manufactured tobacco retail prices and price revisions on August 29, 2025.
New Retail Price Approvals On August 29, new retail prices were approved for multiple manufactured tobacco products. The main approval targets include cigars and cigarettes, covering diverse brands including overseas products.
Price Revision Approval Details On the same date, price revision approvals were also implemented for 15 pipe tobacco products. The revision targets were mainly pipe tobacco products manufactured in the UK, with price adjustments conducted.
Background and Structure of the Approval System Manufactured tobacco retail price approval is an important administrative authority of MOF based on the Tobacco Business Act. When domestic and foreign manufacturers set or change retail prices for manufactured tobacco, they are legally required to obtain prior approval from MOF.
This approval system operates for the following purposes:
- Ensuring appropriate price formation
- Consumer protection and market soundness maintenance
- Stable securing of tobacco tax revenue
- Ensuring product quality and safety
Characteristics of the Approval Process Applications for approval are made by manufacturers or importers, with reviews conducted by the Tobacco and Salt Business Office, General Affairs Division, Financial Bureau of MOF. The review comprehensively verifies price appropriateness, product quality and safety, and fiscal propriety.
Market Impact and Significance Through this approval, consumers will respond to new product purchases and price changes for existing products. For manufacturers, this enables securing appropriate profits and maintaining market competitiveness, while fiscally contributing to maintaining a stable tax revenue base.
Through this system operation, price transparency and consumer protection in Japans tobacco market are ensured, maintaining an appropriate market environment. MOF will continue to promote the formation of a sound tobacco market and secure tax revenue through manufactured tobacco retail price approval.