Commissioner Šemeta welcomes EU agreement to sign WHO Protocol against illicit tobacco trade

Algirdas Šemeta, EU anti-fraud commissioner, welcomed the decision adopted by Council today (9 December) for the EU to sign the WHO Protocol on the Elimination of the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Commissioner Šemeta said: "Every year, public budgets lose around €10 billion per year in the EU alone due to the illegal tobacco trade. Moreover, tobacco smuggling undermines health policies, and helps to fund even more sinister crimes. The EU pours huge resources into stamping out contraband and counterfeit cigarettes. But, it is not a problem we can eliminate on our own. The international nature of this problem demands an international response. The EU must throw its full weight behind the implementation of the WHO Protocol, and help stamp out this pernicious activity across the global."

Background

The Protocol on the Elimination of the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was agreed in November 2012 by the Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Its aim is to establish a global approach to stamping out the illegal tobacco trade, through strict rules and controls on the supply and movement of tobacco products.

Under the Protocol, all those engaged in the tobacco supply chain (which also covers tobacco products and the manufacturing equipment) will be required to conduct due diligence on their customers. Put simply, that means that they must ensure that sales to their customers reflect the real and legitimate demand, and there is not excess supply which could be used in the black market.

The Protocol also foresees the establishment of a global tracking and tracing regime for all tobacco products, within five years of its entry into force. This would include unique identification markings, which will help determine the origin of tobacco products, as well as the point at which they are diverted into the illegal supply chain.

There is an obligation to implement effective controls on tobacco and tobacco products in Free Trade Zones. Tobacco products will no longer be allowed to be mixed with non-tobacco products when exporting from a Free Zone.

The EU will now sign the Protocol within the coming weeks. To enter into force, the Protocol will need to be ratified by 40 signatories.

Share this article: