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Tag: europe

  • Eight EU Countries Seek Broad Nicotine Restrictions

    Eight EU Countries Seek Broad Nicotine Restrictions

    Eight EU member states — the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, and Spain — are urging the European Commission to significantly expand the bloc’s tobacco and nicotine rules as part of the review of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive. In a letter to Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, the countries called for maximum nicotine limits, standardized products and devices, plain packaging, and broad flavor restrictions across authorized nicotine categories. They also want the regulatory framework to allow individual countries to ban nicotine pouches and disposable e-cigarettes.

    The governments are also seeking a ban on advertising for nicotine products, including influencer and creator content, along with restrictions on cross-border online sales. Their proposal would prohibit new nicotine and nicotine-like products, as well as nicotine-free products designed to resemble nicotine products, from entering the EU market. The countries said the revised framework should keep pace with product and marketing developments and support the EU’s goal of becoming smoke-free by 2040.

  • Report Finds EU Lagging in Fight Against Illicit Tobacco

    Report Finds EU Lagging in Fight Against Illicit Tobacco

    The European Court of Auditors (ECA) says the European Union lacks reliable data on the size and impact of the illicit tobacco market and that fragmented national rules and weak coordination are leaving gaps that criminal groups can exploit. Euractiv reported that the auditors estimate the illicit tobacco trade costs the EU and its member states about €13 billion in lost revenue annually, although the ECA cautioned that the estimate should be treated carefully. Euractiv also highlighted the ECA’s criticism of limited transparency around bilateral agreements between EU governments and tobacco companies to combat illicit trade.

    EUobserver reported that the ECA found one in 10 cigarettes made in the EU is either illegally produced or smuggled, while vapes and heated tobacco products account for 13% of the illicit market by value. EUobserver also said the European Anti-Fraud Office helped prevent €178 million in lost tax revenue in 2025 and that the European Commission has accepted most of the ECA’s recommendations but rejected some proposals, including a coordinated EU monitoring system and a framework for assessing member states’ effectiveness in fighting illicit tobacco.

  • EPP Accused of Being Tobacco ‘Mouthpiece’ Ahead of Vote

    EPP Accused of Being Tobacco ‘Mouthpiece’ Ahead of Vote

    An article published by Euractiv today (June 16) reports that the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, is facing criticism from public health organizations and political opponents ahead of a key vote on EU tobacco policy, with critics accusing the party of advancing positions aligned with the tobacco industry. The dispute centers on the European Commission’s ongoing review of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), including potential new rules for nicotine pouches, vaping products and other reduced-risk alternatives.

    According to Euractiv, health advocates argue the EPP has opposed stricter restrictions on newer nicotine products, while the EPP maintains that regulation should be evidence-based and account for harm reduction. The debate comes as the EU considers significant revisions to tobacco and nicotine regulations that could affect product availability, taxation and market access across the bloc.

  • Report: New 15% Tobacco Tax One of Five Streams EU Considering  

    Report: New 15% Tobacco Tax One of Five Streams EU Considering  

    Reuters reported that the European Union is discussing five new revenue streams that would help fund its seven-year budget, allowing for new priorities like defense ​and competitiveness and service joint debt, while limiting cuts to agriculture and regional aid.

    The proposed streams for 2028-2034 are an emissions trading system, a carbon border adjustment mechanism levy, a non-collected electronic ⁠waste tax, a corporate ​resource for ⁠Europe levy, and a tobacco excise duty. The tobacco tax would be a new 15% uniform call-rate tobacco duty, paid by EU member states from national budgets, which would bring in an estimated €11.2 billion ​a year, the ​Commission says.

    By a vote of 370-201, EU’s parliament voted to increase its budget 1.26%, increasing total spending to about €1.94 trillion.

  • Cyprus Compromise May Solve EU Tobacco Impasse

    Cyprus Compromise May Solve EU Tobacco Impasse

    International Policy Digest is reporting that a new compromise proposal from Cyprus may help break the long-standing deadlock among EU member states over revising the Tobacco Excise Directive, which has not been updated since 2011. The European Commission’s 2025 proposal sought to raise minimum excise duties and extend taxation to newer products such as heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, but faced strong opposition from several countries concerned about market disruption and illicit trade.

    The Cyprus proposal retains higher taxes and broader product coverage but introduces a more gradual approach, including transition periods for implementation and limits on automatic inflation-linked increases. It also offers more flexibility for member states in applying taxes to newer nicotine products, addressing key concerns raised in earlier negotiations that stalled progress.

    Initial reactions from EU governments suggest cautious support for the revised approach, though unanimous agreement from all 27 member states remains required. The outcome is time-sensitive, as failure to reach a deal during Cyprus’s presidency could shift negotiations to Ireland, where officials are expected to push for stricter tax measures.

  • EU Smoking Rate Drops 4% Since 2012

    EU Smoking Rate Drops 4% Since 2012

    The European Commission reported that smoking prevalence across the European Union is currently 24% as it released an evaluation of the bloc’s tobacco control framework on April 2, down slightly from 28% in 2012. The review assessed the performance of the Tobacco Products Directive and the Tobacco Advertising Directive, citing progress in public health protection, reduced tobacco-related deaths, and improved internal market functioning through harmonized rules on labeling, ingredient reporting, packaging, traceability, and cross-border advertising restrictions.

    The evaluation also flagged gaps in current legislation amid the rapid growth of novel nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, which the Commission said pose particular risks for youth and may act as a gateway to nicotine addiction. While traditional advertising has been curtailed, digital and covert online promotion remains a challenge. Based on the findings, the Commission will begin an impact assessment and consultations ahead of a planned proposal in 2026 to revise the EU’s tobacco control laws.

  • Geek Bar Returning to Europe

    Geek Bar Returning to Europe

    Geek Bar announced it is officially returning to the European market, launching its Geek Bar Spark across “select countries” this month, with “additional markets and flavor options to follow.” The new-generation, reusable system includes a fast-charging battery, supports up to 1,000 puffs per prefilled pod, and offers new “Europe-specific flavors,” including Moonshine Cherries, Tropical Punch, Pineapple Lemon Fizzy, and Apple Cider.

  • Gap Growing Between EU’s Public-Health Ambitions, Economic Concerns

    Gap Growing Between EU’s Public-Health Ambitions, Economic Concerns

    The European Commission’s plan to overhaul the EU’s tobacco taxation directive has met resistance from numerous Member States, revealing deep divisions over how far and how fast the bloc should go in taxing nicotine products. The proposal, first unveiled on July 16 and discussed for the first time at the Ecofin Council in Luxembourg last week, would sharply raise minimum excise duties on cigarettes and extend taxation to new categories such as vaping and heated tobacco.

    Commissioner for Climate and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra defended the reform as long overdue. “Europe ranks among the highest in the world for the number of smokers,” he said. “Moreover, there are new products deliberately designed for young people, 15-year-olds, which create a new addiction to nicotine. We cannot allow the industry to reverse the narrative, spreading lies as it has already done with traditional cigarettes.”

    Under the Commission’s plan, the minimum duty on cigarettes would rise from 60% to 63% of the weighted average retail price (WAP) and from €90 to €215 per 1,000 pieces. Rolling tobacco would see its threshold climb from 50% to 62% of WAP and from €60 to €215 per kilo. The reform also introduces EU-wide minimum rates for heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, starting in 2028 at 45% of WAP or €88 per 1,000 pieces and increasing through 2032.

    While most governments support the goal of improving public health, at least 12 Member States voiced objections. Italy, Bulgaria, and Romania warned that higher taxes on traditional cigarettes could fuel illicit trade. “We have to examine the interaction between increased tax thresholds and the trafficking of illegal cigarettes,” said Italy’s economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti.

    Croatia, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary described the proposed thresholds as too high. Hungary fears for its cigarillo sector, while Luxembourg rejects the Commission’s plan for automatic adjustments based on purchasing power.

    Sweden and Finland objected to taxing snus, with Swedish finance minister Elisabeth Svantesson insisting that “taxes should reflect the degree of harm, not the product type.”

  • EU Weighs Major Tobacco Tax Overhaul

    EU Weighs Major Tobacco Tax Overhaul

    The European Commission is preparing a sweeping reform of the Tobacco Excise Tax Directive (TED), targeting a sharp increase in taxes on traditional cigarettes and rolling tobacco, with more modest hikes planned for alternative products like heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, according to an internal working document seen by Euractiv.

    Key Highlights from the Draft Proposal:

    • Cigarette Tax: Proposed increase of 139%, from €90 to €215 per 1,000 units.
    • Rolling Tobacco: Tax hike of 258%, from €60/kg to €215/kg, aligning its burden with cigarettes.
    • Cigars & Cigarillos: Massive proposed increase of 1,090%, to €143/1,000 units or per kg.
    • Shisha/Waterpipe Tobacco: Proposed at €107/kg.
    • Nicotine Pouches: Suggested tax of €143/kg.
    • E-Cigarettes: Tax based on nicotine strength:
      • >15mg/ml: €0.36/ml
      • ≤15mg/ml: €0.12/ml
    • Heated Tobacco:
      • Unit-based: €108/1,000 units
      • Weight-based: €155/kg
      • Roughly 50% lower tax burden compared to cigarettes

    Policy Context & Challenges:

    • A 15-country coalition, led by France and the Netherlands, is urging stronger EU-wide tobacco controls, including taxation on emerging nicotine products.
    • The Commission says the current rules are “no longer fit for purpose.”
    • However, changes to the TED require unanimous support from all EU member states — a high bar amid diverging national interests.
    • Italy, Greece, and Romania have objected to treating alternative products (like heated tobacco) the same as combustible cigarettes, citing harm reduction arguments
  • ESPAD Ireland Sees All-Time Low in Smoking, Vape on Rise 

    ESPAD Ireland Sees All-Time Low in Smoking, Vape on Rise 

    Ireland recorded its lowest levels of teenage smoking and alcohol consumption in three decades, according to the 2024 Irish report of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). However, the findings saw increases in e-cigarette use, alternative nicotine products, and adolescent gambling.

    ESPAD Ireland said 12% of students reported being current smokers, with daily smoking falling to just 2%, both all-time lows in Ireland’s 30 years of participating in the survey. However, 32% of respondents said they had tried e-cigarettes, and 7% reported daily use. Of those who tried vaping, 76% never used a cigarette. Cannabis use also dropped from 19% in 2019 to 12% in 2024.

    “While the downward trend is encouraging, the data also reveals the continuing challenge: young people are still being drawn into tobacco and nicotine use—be it cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or emerging nicotine products,” said Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy. “We must act decisively to break this cycle.”