Fri, May 18, 2012
Tobacco Reporter Magazine Content:
OLAF examining JTI allegations
Jan 9, 2012—The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is ‘carefully evaluating’ a media report that raises questions about Japan Tobacco International’s approach to its illicit trade agreement with the EU, according to Algirdas Šemeta, EU Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud.
Šemeta was replying to a written question from Sir Graham Watson, a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, who said that the EU and member states had signed four multi-year anti contraband and anti-counterfeit agreements with tobacco manufacturers, including with JTI ‒ agreements that placed obligations on manufacturers to help combat smuggling.
‘The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an investigative reporting organisation, has published an article by John Holland, Bojana Jovanović and Stevan Dojčinović on JTI which raises questions about JTI’s approach to the relevant Agreement,’ Watson wrote. ‘I have no way personally of confirming the veracity of the allegations, and I note that JTI has not wanted to comment on what it describes as “unfounded allegations” published by OCCRP, which it asserts come from a former employee.
‘Is the Commission aware of the report? Will it ask the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to investigate the allegations further?’
Jan 9, 2012—The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is ‘carefully evaluating’ a media report that raises questions about Japan Tobacco International’s approach to its illicit trade agreement with the EU, according to Algirdas Šemeta, EU Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud.
Šemeta was replying to a written question from Sir Graham Watson, a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, who said that the EU and member states had signed four multi-year anti contraband and anti-counterfeit agreements with tobacco manufacturers, including with JTI ‒ agreements that placed obligations on manufacturers to help combat smuggling.
‘The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an investigative reporting organisation, has published an article by John Holland, Bojana Jovanović and Stevan Dojčinović on JTI which raises questions about JTI’s approach to the relevant Agreement,’ Watson wrote. ‘I have no way personally of confirming the veracity of the allegations, and I note that JTI has not wanted to comment on what it describes as “unfounded allegations” published by OCCRP, which it asserts come from a former employee.
‘Is the Commission aware of the report? Will it ask the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to investigate the allegations further?’
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