Vape Prices Hike As EU Brings In Vape Tax!
A European vape tax will probably be rubber stamped today bringing all things vape into line with lit tobacco and therefore costing much more.
Despite all ‘novel tobacco‘ products – vape kits, e-liquids, heat not burn devices – being within the TPD, they are not taxed as such.
This, says the EU, will bring them into line with lit tobacco and will apparently help ‘tackle the challenges‘ they bring – whatever they are.
The bombshell was broken by news website EuroActiv that received a ‘leaked‘ copy of the new proposals that appear to have come out of nowhere from what I can see.
The draft proposal says:
The current provisions of Directive 2011/64/EU have become less effective, as they are either no longer sufficient or too narrow to address current and future challenges, concerning some products, such as liquids for e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other types of next-generation products, which are entering the market.
It is therefore urgent and necessary to upgrade the EU regulatory framework, in order to tackle current and future challenges in respect of the functioning of the internal market by harmonising definitions and tax treatment of novel products (such as liquids for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products), including products, whether or not containing nicotine, that substitute tobacco, in order to avoid legal uncertainty and regulatory disparities in the EU.
When they say ‘harmonizing‘ they of course mean tax the shit out of all things vape…strange timing given the WHO is on the rampage around vaping in Europe…
The actual figures are unclear, however according to the Tax Foundation, the EU taxes tobacco with this formula:
…excise duty of €1.80 ($2.12) per 20-cigarette pack and 60 percent of an EU country’s weighted average retail selling price (certain exceptions apply).
On top of excise duties, all EU countries levy a value-added tax (VAT) on cigarettes.
One thing is clear, a combined media fake news assault on vaping, backed by the World Health Organization, and now a heavy tax, might not put current vapers off, but it may affect smokers thinking of switching for both health and the once cheaper option of vaping.
This was a point made very clear in the new ETHRA Manifesto that I wrote about yesterday: European Vaping Manifesto Launched – The Fight To Save Vaping Is On!
Point six clearly states:
Tax policy must take into account that high taxation of safer nicotine products increases rates of smoking.
That makes perfect sense, sadly the EU has ignored this and many smokers may decide to stick with smoking rather than making the switch to what is a healthier and what was a cheaper option.
I’ll try and add an update to Sunday’s Vaping News.
So what do you make of a European vape tax?
Should all ‘novel nicotine‘ products be tax free?
Let me know in the comments below!
World Vape Day vs World No Tobacco Day – Let Battle Commence!
It’s a battle of the ‘days‘ as vape advocates from across the globe plan to go head to head with the powerful World Health Organization.
Saturday May 30th is the launch of World Vape Day whilst World No Tobacco Day is on Sunday May 31st.
You might be forgiven for thinking the two should combine – sadly the WHO is as anti-vaping as you can get.
Indeed it is using the most ridiculous – some might say shocking – images of children to promote its event – WTF is wrong with these people!
So this is going to be about social media numbers and who – pun intended – can come out on top with the message ‘vaping is considerably safer than smoking – no matter what you might hear and from whom’