SFS confirms 10% cigarette price hike starting January 2026
Cigarettes and cigarillos in Moldova will see a 10% price hike starting January 1, 2026, after the State Tax Service (SFS) set a new minimum retail price (reference price) for a standard pack of 20 units at 46.59 lei.
The previous minimum allowed cigarette price in 2025 was 42.35 lei. The SFS is warning retailers that selling tobacco products at any price lower than this set reference price is strictly prohibited, regardless of the type of commercial unit.
Significant Commercial Fines for Non-Compliance
The agency underscores that non-compliance with this regulation carries severe penalties.
According to the Fiscal Code provisions, selling cigarettes below the minimum retail price is punishable by a commercial fine ranging from 30% to 50% of the total stock value found during control. This value is calculated based on the reference price.
How the Minimum Retail Price is Calculated
The reference price is fundamentally linked to the minimum excise tax established for the respective year. The Fiscal Code outlines the calculation: the minimum excise rate applied to 1,000 cigarettes, multiplied by a coefficient of 1.46, and then proportioned to the number of cigarettes in the pack.
For 2026, the minimum excise tax for 1,000 cigarettes is set at 1,595 lei, a figure that directly resulted in the new minimum retail price of 46.59 lei per pack.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
