The Smoke Free Partnership, SFP, of which Tobacco Facts is one of the coalition organizations, is writing together with Smoke Free Netherlands to highlight the seriousness of the delay in revising the tax directive. A proposal was expected to be published as early as December 2022.
But despite the fact that the current directive is considered to need to be updated and despite member states having expressed the need for stronger tax legislation, nothing has happened yet.
Framework for vape
The Smoke Free Partnership and Smoke Free Netherlands write in their letter that a large part of the member states' national control policies depend on the revision of the tax directive. This includes, for example, the introduction of a framework for taxing vaping. This would be a support for countries that have not yet introduced a tax on vaping, such as the Netherlands. It would also provide scope for stronger taxation of heated tobacco products, and comparing them with e-cigarettes rather than traditional tobacco products, the two organizations write.
The full letter can be read on the SFP website.
