Lawmakers filed varying proposals to raise the current NT$10 tax per packet of 20 cigarettes to NT$15, NT$20 or NT$40 to discourage smoking, but because they failed to reach a consensus, the topic of higher cigarette taxes was referred to further negotiation.

Ruling Kuomintang legislator Chang Shuo-wen proposed a hike to NT$40 while rejecting allegations he was trying to sabotage any rises. He said smaller increases would not work if the aim was to discourage smoking altogether.

Some lawmakers pointed out a contradiction in the government’s plans for the hike. “The country sells tobacco, but also bans tobacco,” said KMT legislator Lee Hung-chun, calling on the government to sell the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation.

Lawmakers did agree on tougher measures against cigarette smuggling and on forcing the Department of Health to spend at least 6 percent of revenue from the tobacco tax on cancer prevention work.

The discussion about hiking tobacco taxation is coming amid preparations for the launch of a newly amended Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act on January 11. Under the new rules, smoking will be banned in all indoor workplaces staffed by at least three employees.

Smoking will also be illegal in public indoor areas such as passenger waiting rooms and entertainment areas such as tea rooms, KTV parlors, and bowling alleys.

The ban also covers some outdoor public areas such as train station platforms, swimming pools, school campuses and sports stadiums.

The new act stipulates fines ranging from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 for offenders.

Anti-smoking campaigners say the habit and its related diseases cost the National Health Insurance Bureau NT$30 billion in extra expenses a year.