MACAO, July 14 - The new tobacco tax bill allowing passengers to bring less duty-free cigarettes to Macao took effect on Tuesday.

According to the new regulation, Macao's new tobacco consumption tax rate doubled from 0.5 patacas to 1.5 patacas per cigarette. Meanwhile, passengers are permitted to bring in 19 cigarettes, or one cigar or 25 grams of other manufactured tobacco.

Cigarette tax would account for more than 70 percent of the retail price, which is in line with the suggestion of the World Health Organization.

This was in bids to prevent importation of dutiable tobacco, especially following the increase of cigarette tax, said in the statement of Macao Special Administrative Region government.

According to the statement, this change was to further accommodate to the work on smoking control under the New Regime of Tobacco Prevention and Control.

The Macao Customs Services and the Economic Services said they would act closely to stop any unlawful trade of tobacco in Macao.