Rise in cigarette taxes, first EU-wide vaping levy on the cards

The changes to legislation, part of a push by Brussels to cut smoking rates, will increase the EU's minimum excise duty on cigarettes from 1.80 euros to 3.60 euros per pack of 20

The European Union (EU) is to propose a bloc-wide vaping levy as part of a shake-up of taxation on the tobacco industry that would also double excise duties in member states with low cigarette taxes, according to a draft European Commission document, as reported by Financial Times.

The changes to legislation, part of a push by Brussels to cut smoking rates, will increase the EU’s minimum excise duty on cigarettes from €1.80 to €3.60 per pack of 20, which would raise prices in eastern European nations where packs can sell for under €3.

The update to the 2011 EU tobacco taxation directive