Tobacco Risk and WHO Sector Analysis
- Proposed European Union regulations on tobacco sales are facing strong opposition from Italian retailers, who fear the measures will disrupt the market, fuel smuggling, and undermine public health...
- Mario Antonelli, President of the Italian Tabaccai Federation (Federazione Italiana Tabaccai - FIT), has voiced serious concerns regarding a series of regulatory proposals under consideration by the European...
- Antonelli argues these measures represent a significant overreach of regulatory power by the EU, infringing upon both the freedom of businesses and the individual liberties of citizens.
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Italian Tobacco Retailers Warn Against EU Regulations Threatening Industry
Table of Contents
Proposed European Union regulations on tobacco sales are facing strong opposition from Italian retailers, who fear the measures will disrupt the market, fuel smuggling, and undermine public health protections. The concerns center around potential restrictions on sales practices and the structure of the distribution network.
Concerns Over proposed EU Regulations
Mario Antonelli, President of the Italian Tabaccai Federation (Federazione Italiana Tabaccai – FIT), has voiced serious concerns regarding a series of regulatory proposals under consideration by the European Union. These proposals, as outlined by Antonelli, include:
- Ad Hoc Sanctioning Schemes: Introduction of unpredictable and potentially arbitrary penalties.
- Filter Prohibition: A complete ban on the use of filters, effectively prohibiting the sale of currently available products.
- Price Fixing: Imposing maximum prices on tobacco products.
- Quota Systems: Allocating sales quotas to pre-selected operators.
- state-Controlled Sales: Establishing a state-planned sales system, eliminating the current retail network.
- Date-of-Birth Restrictions: Limiting sales based on a customer’s birthdate.
- Legal Professional Reduction: Drastically reducing the number of lawyers specializing in the sector, based on unclear criteria.
Antonelli argues these measures represent a significant overreach of regulatory power by the EU, infringing upon both the freedom of businesses and the individual liberties of citizens.
Italy’s Channeled sales Model and EU Recognition
Antonelli emphasized that Italy currently operates a well-established and legally sound distribution model. This system relies on a network of retailers holding state concessions, granted based on “precise and stringent criteria” established by national laws and regulations. He highlighted that this model has been “perfectly responsive to the needs for the protection of public health” and has been recognized as such by both the european Union and the European Court of justice.
This channeled sales model is designed to control access to tobacco products and prevent sales to minors, a key public health objective. italy’s system differs from some other EU countries where tobacco is sold more freely in a wider range of retail outlets. Euractiv reported on Italy’s defense of its model in 2018,highlighting the contry’s commitment to strict regulation.
Fears of Smuggling and Job Losses
A central concern raised by antonelli is the potential for these regulations to drive the tobacco market underground, leading to a surge in smuggling. He warned that disrupting the legal market could result in “the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of jobs” and would be a “demagogic initiative without any technical and scientific foundation.”
the Italian tobacco retail sector is a significant employer,and the FIT represents a large network of self-reliant businesses. These retailers not only sell tobacco products but also provide services of public interest, such as collecting indirect taxes and maintaining a legal market for regulated goods. The FIT website provides further information on the economic impact of the sector.
Call for Government Support
Antonelli concluded by urging the Italian government to strongly oppose these initiatives during