For nearly a century, cigarette production has occupied a large part of the Taiwanese economy. With beginnings as a government run and approved monopoly, the rise of the tobacco industry over the course of the century has engendered growing taxes for the government, but also has caused profound increases in death and disease that have accompanied social and economic hardships for families across the island. ;xNLx;;xNLx; From the hand-rolled cigarettes of the Meiji Regime to the Menthol Slims produced by Taiwan's first foreign tobacco plant, the mass manufacturing environment in Taiwan has changed dramatically since its humble beginnings in the start of the 20th century.
Systematic cigarette production in Taiwan began with the formation of the Taiwan Tobacco Monopoly during the 10th year of Japanese occupation of Taiwan.
A "Bitter Leaf" plant at the heart of Taipei City
Heightened demand for tobacco products led to plans for a second cigarette-focused tobacco factory in Taiwan as well as Taiwan Tobacco's first Corporate Social "Responsibility" efforts.
The Songshan Tobacco Plant employs Corporate Social "Responsibility" by introducing the industrial village to tobacco production in Taiwan.
The new government under Chiang Kai-Shek retained the tobacco monopoly as a government agency, placing the Taiwan's tobacco plants under new management.
Cigarette Production climbs steadily following WWII, at times outpacing population growth.
Pressure from urban developers prompts the Taipei Cigarette Factory to relocate to its current location in New Taipei City.
The Taipei Cigarette Factory establishes a department devoted to filter production.
Faced with pressure from countries such as the United States, Taiwan allows foreign tobacco product imports into the market for the first time in over 75 years.
Pressure from urban planners, combined with declining demand for domestically produced cigarettes, leads to the closure of the Songshan Tobacco Plant.
The Taiwan Tobacco Monopoly Bureau was changed from a government agency into state-owned Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation.
Imperial Tobacco opens its first Southeast Asia factory a hop, a skip, and a jump away from the National Health Research Institute Headquarters.
Since the end of the retail monopoly in 1987, domestic cigarette production has dwindled to under 1% of national revenue.
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