OBJECTIVE
Little evidence, other than that commissioned by the tobacco industry, exists on the size of the illicit tobacco trade. This study addresses this gap by examining the level and nature of illicit cigarettes and hand rolled tobacco in 18 European countries.
DESIGN
Face to face cross sectional survey on smoking.
SETTING
18 European countries.
PARTICIPANTS
For each country, around 1000 subjects representative of the population aged 15 and over were enrolled. Current cigarette smokers were asked to show their latest purchased pack of cigarettes or hand rolled tobacco.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
A comprehensive measure called an Identification of an Illicit Pack (IIP) was used to study the extent of illicit trade, defining a pack as illicit if it had at least one of the following tax evasion indicators (1) it was bought from illicit sources, as reported by smokers, (2) it had an inappropriate tax stamp, (3) it had an inappropriate health warning or (4) its price was substantially below the known price in their market.
RESULTS
Overall, the proportion of illicit packs was 6.5%. The highest prevalence of IIP was observed in Latvia (37.8%). Illicit packs were more frequent among less educated smokers and among those living in a country which shared a land or sea border with Ukraine, Russia, Moldova or Belarus. No significant association was found with price of cigarettes.
CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that IIP is less than 7% in Europe and suggests that the supply of illicit tobacco, rather than its price, is a key factor contributing to tax evasion.
Tobacco other than cigarettes: approximation of rates
Totally wicked responds to the european parliament decision to regulate electronic cigarettes that will cost lives
REFERENCES ActEntry into forceDeadline for transposition in the Member StatesOfficial Journal Directive 92/80/EEC
10.11.1992
31.12.1992
OJ L 316 of 31.10.1992
Amending act(s)Entry into forceDeadline for transposition in the Member StatesOfficial Journal Directive 1999/81/EC
11.8.1999
1.1.1999
OJ L 211 of 11.8.1999
Directive 2002/10/EC
8.3.2002
1.7.2002
GER 1.1.2008
SP/GR 1.1.2008
OJ L 46 of 16.2.2002
Directive 2003/117/EC
20.12.2003
31.12.2003
OJ L 233 of 20.12.2003
Directive 2010/12/EU
27.2.2010
1.1.2011
OJ L 50 of 27.2.2010