British American Tobacco (BAT) demand that the term for sale of cigarettes with old excise labels be abolished since due to that legal sale of imported cigarette brands will be impossible after January 28, 2002 for a period of two to four months, a statement of the company reads. With a governmental decision, the cigarettes with excise labels, put on before January 1, 2002, will be sold at their old prices, printed on the excise labels till February 28, 2002. British American Tobacco claims that the term, set by the government, is too short and is in conflict with the world practices. In the statement of the company, British American Tobacco proposes that in case that a term for the sale of cigarettes with old excise labels is necessary, this term should be set at December 31, 2002. According to Philippe Charles, BAT General Manager, the traders are discouraged from buying cigarettes since they fear that they will not have enough time to sell them. Several months are necessary so that the imported cigarettes with new excise labels reach the Bulgarian market. At least three months are necessary for production, transport and import after the printing of the new excise labels, the British American Tobacco statement