No interest from smaller firms in anti-fraud deals

While the four multinational tobacco companies operating within the EU have signed agreements aimed at reducing the illegal trade in tobacco products, no other tobacco company has expressed an interest in signing such agreements, according to the European Commission.

The Commission was responding to two questions from the Croatian MEP Ivan Jakovčić.

In a preamble to his questions, Jakovčić said that he had spoken about such agreements at the plenary session of the European Parliament on May 18.

‘Since during the debate I suggested that other, smaller tobacco and cigarette manufacturers should also join negotiations on the agreement, I ask the Commission if it has undertaken something in that direction,’ he said.

‘Does the Commission consider that the number of manufacturers joining the agreement should be increased, especially since some are major national or regional producers of tobacco and cigarettes?’

In answer, the Commission said the EU and member states had concluded anti-fraud agreements with the four major tobacco manufacturers in Europe, and it said it had signalled its readiness to discuss similar arrangements with other relevant manufacturers in the sector in order to fight the illegal tobacco trade.

‘However, so far no manufacturer has expressed interest in doing so,’ it said.

Meanwhile, the Commission said it had not yet taken a position regarding the possible prolongation of any of the existing agreements. ‘As such, the Commission is not currently in negotiations with any tobacco producer,’ it added.