A recently published study in the BMC Public Health journal (here), finds several reasons why younger smokers in Ireland use roll-your-own tobacco. Based on 62 participants this qualitative Study finds that affordability is one factor amongst several considerations why the young adults interviewed switched from manufactured cigarettes to smoke roll-your-own tobacco. Read More
The KPMG 2017 Project Sun report on counterfeit and contraband cigarette consumption in Europe shows an overall decrease in the trade of illicit cigarettes, although they are still estimated at 8.7% of total consumption. In total this represents a tax revenue loss of €10bn for EU member states, making illicit cigarettes one of the largest sources of overall consumption. Read More
The European Commission’s DG TAXUD published end of July the updated releases for consumption of cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco, including 2017 figures. Sales have declined for fine-cut tobacco products by around 6%. Read More
Today EU Court rules that International Treaty does not call for exclusion of the tobacco industry in developing and implementing tobacco control legislation. No one should be excluded from participating in dialogue.
EU Court clarifies that International Treaty does not exclude tobacco industry from dialogue with...
www.esta.be
Way to start 2020! 🇧🇪 customs seized over 100.000.000 counterfeit cigarettes, worth around €65mio of evaded duties. Smart tobacco tax policies can also help MS curbing illicit trade.
Counterfeit cigarettes seizures in January alone nearly topple 2019 record
www.brusselstimes.com
Good news! Another illegal tobacco factory was dismantled in Hungary🇭🇺. Cooperation between national and EU institutions such as @OLAFPress and @Europol is key. Smart tax policies as well
Ungarns Steuerfahndung hob illegale Zigarettenfabrik aus
Sechs Millionen Zigaretten und 35 Tonnen Tabak wurden sichergestellt. Hinweise der EU-Antibetrugsbehörde Olaf und der E...
www.diepresse.com
© 2025 ESTA.
An obvious correlation exists between the highest levels of illegal and non-domestic consumption (e.g. France, UK, Ireland, Poland and Finland) and the highest taxation rates applied to fine-cut toconsbacco, in comparison with cigarettes. The figures clearly show that any alignment of tobacco taxation, regardless of the products’ specificities, will prevent fine-cut tobacco from fulfilling its buffer function, leading to increased illegal trade of cigarettes and driving down government revenues.
Read more about the relationship between tax and illegal trade
;