Cigarettes on the Internet: the denial of Bercy
Smokers will soon be able to buy their cigarettes on the Internet? Yes, according to news reports. No way, "replies the government and Brussels. Voices of Wednesday evoke a future authorization in France for the sale of cigarettes on the internet as part of the transposition of the EU directive.
Nicolas Sarkozy has stressed to the Council of Ministers that it was "no question" of allowing the sale of tobacco on the Internet "for public health reasons", reported the spokesman Luc Chatel government, reporting Council's work."When we began several years ago a battle against smoking (…) it is not possible to create a parallel network of supply of tobacco", said Luc Chatel, who is also Minister of Education "France will not implement this provision.
Earlier in the morning, Budget Minister Eric Woerth had also categorically denied that the government would legalize the sale of tobacco on the Internet. In the aftermath, the Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot said on RTL radio that it is possible for "France does not transpose the directive in the European lead to permit the sale of tobacco on behalf of Internet public health. "
The response from Brussels was later
The European Commission has taken longer to respond.It was not until mid-afternoon it was split in a statement announcing that belied also want to authorize the sale of tobacco on the Internet in the EU.
That directive talks about how they will collect all excise taxes (taxes on alcohol, tobacco …), especially in the case of a sale via the internet, because "some countries have already authorized the sale via the Internet, "he told AFP spokeswoman for the Commissioner for Taxation, Maria Assimakopoulou.
But this text "does not regulate sales' distance, he" did not say whether France may authorize the sale of cigarettes on the Internet, "she added.
According to the edition of Les Echos on Wednesday, the government planned to allow in France the sale of cigarettes on the Internet as part of the implementation – by 1 January – European Directive 118 on excise duties on tobacco and alcohol.With application from 1 April 2010.
This should have been made in the draft finance law amendment submitted to the National Assembly in mid-November, the newspaper said. "It is not intended to open the sector to distance selling, then reiterated the ministry's budget, indicating that other parts of the Directive would be transposed, but not those concerning the sale of tobacco online. On the Internet, cigarettes can be bought cheaper than at tobacco shops, but it's totally illegal under the General Tax Code.
Billions of euros at stake
For the state, the financial issue is important insofar as the sale of cigarettes he reported 13 billion euros through taxes.In cases of transposition of the Directive, the government should have such control this trade for the price of cigarettes sold on the Internet are "aligned" on the rates charged by tobacconists.
Legalizing the sale of cigarettes on the Internet would be a blow to the newsagents, which should soon be faced with a further increase in tobacco prices likely to affect a few more sales. Higher tobacco prices by about 6%, claimed by the manufacturers, was scheduled October 5, but was postponed for "some weeks" Bercy (responsible for registering the price of tobacco, Editor's note) preferring 's to ensure its compatibility with the future plan cancer.
The Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot has said his side be "positive" to a 10% increase per year for several years.It must be representatives of tobacconists in the afternoon.
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