Manufacturers and importers of cigarettes in Côte d’Ivoire who fail to comply with the mandatory fiscal stamp requirement will face the withdrawal of their licenses and the closure of their establishments starting July 1, 2026, according to a statement issued on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté.

However, as an exceptional measure, a strictly limited three-month transitional period from April to June 2026 has been granted to allow the clearance of existing stocks.

After this deadline, no tobacco product may be marketed within the national territory without compliant fiscal marking, the minister warned.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, in coordination with the relevant authorities, will conduct inspection operations across the entire national territory.

In this regard, the minister urged all operators to immediately take the necessary measures to strictly comply with the regulations in force.