Excise duty - manufactured tobacco

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) endorses:

• considering other than purely fiscal effects of tobacco excise duty policies (health policy goals);
• bringing the minimum rates for fine-cut tobacco gradually into line with the rate for cigarettes;
• giving more freedom to the Member States in adopting decisions in line with their own policy goals.
• the proposed EUR 90 minimum excise should be reduced or the four year period for its implementation should be extended to 8 years (January 1, 2018).