During the first six months of 2008, cigarette sales in Belgium have gone down by 12% compared to the same period in 2007, revealed Tobacco Reporter, citing an Expatia.com report.
Sales of lose tobacco reportedly decreased by 8.5%. According to Belgium's health minister, this drop in sales is primarily due to a price rise in 2007 and a legislation prohibiting smoking in public places.
The Expatia.com report maintained that cigarettes were regularly smuggled into Belgium from eastern Europe and retailers in the country are facing competition from the eastern European producers.