Links


Tobacco Experts

Tobacco experts are competent and properly trained technical personnel who play an important role in the production, evaluation, processing, ageing and manufacturing. stages of tobacco. Experts in these fields have to acquire a thorough knowledge and training in tobacco-from the plant in the field to the finished product-covering the various stages of the tobacco industry. Experts, who form a uniform staff in the Turkish State Monopolies, undertake duties of a great variety, ranging from the supervision of the production of high quality tobacco by acquainting the producer with certain aspects of production techniques, to participation in scientific research studies. Furthermore, these experts hold responsible positions, both on the technical and administrative sides of the tobacco industry and contribute successfully to its improvement.

In order maintain a satisfactory balance when estimating the production quality and evaluation of the crop it is necessary to combine the interests of the producer and consumer with the interests of the country. This responsibility lies with he tobacco experts. Great importance is attached to the achievement of this end which is only made possible by correct and proper use of their evaluation measures. In a situation where mutual interests frequently conflict and where every kind of pressure can be exerted, an independent evaluation by the tobacco experts gives them a unique and specialized responsibility. The success of their skill is one of the most important factors affecting the tobacco production and the economics of the country. In addition. Concrete measures should always be taken to improve the quality of tobacco-from the seed bed to the manufacturing stage-and the tobacco experts are charged with the dissemination of the necessary information to all concerned in the tobacco industry.

During the storing. Ageing, processing and manufacturing stages; both from the technical and administrative points of view the tobacco experts also play a leading role. They ensure the proper ageing of tobacco, its classification, blending and manufacture. By reason of the specialized nature of the various stages in the tobacco industry, the employment of tobacco experts in the supervision and direction of these activities has yielded more productive results, compared with those cases where only administrative staff were employed.

By reason of their specialization, tobacco experts have always worked within plants or processing sheds which benefits from their technical knowledge and contributes to the operation as a whole. The tobacco expert is always keenly interested in the latest developments and his efforts are continuously directed towards an improved standard of operation in accordance with the requirements of the day.

The responsibilities the experts, which in earlier days were not strictly defined, have since been determined by haws and regulations. Provisions defining these responsibilities have been in force since1938.Under the said provisions a licence must be acquired in order to practice as a "tobacco expert" The purchase, sale, and inspection of tobacco and appraising of the quality, value and type as well as any work relating to the processing of tobacco or to arbitration in cases relating to tobacco, can not be performed by persons without a licence.

The experts may be penalized by temporary or permanent suspension of their licence (prohibition form exercising their profession) during the course of their duties for reason stated below:

  1. Causing damage to a person or establishment in the tobacco business;
  2. Exercising a false arbitration or determining wrong grades and values;
  3. Giving wrong information to the buyers those interested in tobacco;
  4. Indicating a false origin of tobacco in reports on which the certificates of origin are based for export purposes;
  5. Deliberate action which might unbalance the internal and external Turkish tobacco markets.

The duties of the experts have been widened by the ramification of tobacco research studies into specialized field their speedy development, application of results, increase in production and demand from the point of view of the producer, manufacturer and consumer. These fields also embrace the development of sales methods and evaluation systems and especially expansion of mechanical devices affecting all phases of life, the creation of new branches of science and lastly the rivalries between producing and exporting countries. In view of the above their position is continually rising in importance in the tobacco industry and its relation to the economics of the country. For these reasons attempts are being made to give them o wide knowledge corresponding to a high level education.


tta Leaf Tobacco Operation and Commerce Directorate