Taxing issues in Luxembourg

Luxembourg’s Cancer Foundation has condemned a government decision to compensate for a two percent VAT increase on tobacco products by reducing excise duty from January 1, according to a story in the Luxembourg Wort.

Speaking on behalf of the awareness-raising not-for-profit organization, Dr. Lucienne Thommes said in a press release that he was ‘shocked’ by the decision.

He said he had hoped that Luxembourg would ‘finally advance its anti-smoking policy’ after smoking in public places was banned from 2014.

“We deeply regret that with this measure, the government should put economic interests before a major public health issue,” said Thommes.

The Luxembourg government is currently implementing a National Cancer Plan, which emphasises that tobacco is the leading preventable risk factor for cancer.