Bougouriba: The Mobile Brigade for the Control and Repression of Fraud (BMCRF), headed by general coordinator Sanib¨ Faho, has called upon stakeholders in the tobacco industry in Ouagadougou to adhere to the System for Marking, Authentication, Monitoring, and Traceability (SMAT) for tobacco and new tobacco products, irrespective of whether they are manufactured domestically or imported.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the call was made during a press briefing on April 13, 2026, which followed a large-scale control operation that led to the seizure of 18,595 cartons of cigarettes, many of which were found to be non-compliant with current regulations. The seized boxes included 3,451 with compliant stickers, 2,332 with non-compliant stickers, and 12,812 without any stickers at all.

A decree that came into effect on July 5, 2025, mandates tobacco product operators to install equipment for applying secure stickers on tobacco products at production units within Burkina Faso and at the factories of suppliers for importers. The initial deadline for compliance was set for January 10, 2026, after which inspection missions were conducted from February 9 to 24, 2026, in Ziniare, Bobo-Dioulasso, and Ouagadougou to evaluate compliance levels.

Mr. Faho noted that an extension was granted until February 28, 2026, with subsequent inspection and seizure operations conducted on March 31 and April 1, 2026. A total of 115 entities were inspected, comprising 3 producers, 6 importers, and 106 wholesalers and retailers. Only 6 of these entities were found to be in compliance, while 109 were in violation of the regulations.

The BMCRF, through its general coordinator, has urged manufacturers, importers, and distributors to take the necessary measures to comply with the established regulations.