Europe / France: let's not tax smoking cessation
Taxing vaping means taxing smoking cessation. Yet this is the EU's plan, given that 700,000 European citizens die every year from smoking. As part of the TED (Tobacco Excise Directive), the Commission is considering taxing vape for the first time.
Incomprehensible. Vapor does not contain tobacco, it does not lead to smoking.
On the contrary, it's the N°1 tool to help people quit. Effective and popular, it's the biggest ever exit tool from smoking, and has already helped millions of people in France and Europe.
Respond to the EU consultation on taxes
As part of the EFILE revision process, a new public consultation has been launched: Tobacco taxation - excise duties applied to manufactured tobacco (updated rules).
Here is FIVAPE's opinion in defense of the interests of vaping and its industry, independent of the tobacco industry: European taxation of vaping: a threat to public health, economic destruction, a gift to the tobacco industry. [.pdf].
This consultation is open to all.
In addition to professionals and consumers, FIVAPE is calling on associations and learned societies to give their opinion. Those who know the benefits of vaping, on the ground with smokers, must speak out. This is an ethical obligation at a time when European decision-makers are being intensively lobbied to tax and thus hinder the growth of cigarettes' best enemy.
Anti-vape lobbying in France
In France too, lobbies are maneuvering to tax vape, suppress flavors, demonize and limit nicotine levels. A nonsensical and unverified moral panic about young people is now being used as a pretext for all the plans for restrictions that are detrimental to helping people stop smoking - 99% of users - and that ultimately protect the monopoly of smoked cigarettes.
Following rumors of a tax on vaping in the next finance bill, FIVAPE published a press release on September 22 with clear, well-argued positions: Creation of a new tax on vaping: 4 million citizens targeted by an unfair measure.
At a time when France has one of the highest smoking rates in Europe, leading to the deaths of 75,000 French people a year, we are the N°1 players in the fight against smoking, and we're proud of it. Vape professionals can count on FIVAPE to defend their businesses and their jobs.
More and more of you are joining us to defend responsible vaping, independent of the tobacco industry. Thank you for your contribution and your confidence!
Jean MOIROUD
President of FIVAPE
