Overview

• At the Intertabac trade fair in Dortmund, industry representatives said the planned EU tax rise would fuel illicit sales and strengthen criminal networks.
• The proposal, which still requires unanimous approval by EU member states, would raise minimum duties to €215 per 1,000 cigarettes and €215 per kilogram of fine-cut tobacco from €90 and €60.
• Industry estimates suggest a typical pack in Germany could climb from about €8.50 to more than €12, pointing to price jumps in the Netherlands and France as cautionary examples.
• A Dutch customs study finds only 55% of cigarettes consumed there are domestically taxed and about 10% are counterfeits, with Germany’s untaxed share estimated near 20%.
• Germany’s BDZ union says illegal trade in cigarettes and e-cigarettes is already increasing and calls for more staff, modern equipment and simpler rules, while cancer researchers support higher prices as an effective tool to cut smoking.