It is with a certain sadness that we learn of this famous rush for tobacco since deconfinement. Indeed, nothing seems to stop cigarette sales in Andorra even when the border is closed. Between May 11, the first official day of deconfinement in France, and May 31, sales of tobacco products increased by nearly 50% in the principality. However, the border between France and Andorra did not reopen until June 1. That day, thousands of cars had reached Pas-de-la-Case forming kilometers of traffic jams.
NO CONTROL, NO PREVENTION AGAINST TOBACCO ...
The closure of the border was therefore not an obstacle to the increase in sales, revealed by Seita, the second player in the French tobacco market. How to explain it? " Smokers were able to travel to Andorra before the border opened", Assure Basil Vezin, Seita's spokesperson. " Controls were weak. The impermeability of the border was not as strong as we imagine". An amazing version.
On the Customs side, it is ensured that if a permanent filter barrier was in place on the French side during confinement, " the situation changed somewhat in may with Andorra's relative relaxation of measures related to frontier workers", Details Bruno Parissier, chief customs inspector at the Perpignan regional office.
For smokers, buying tobacco in Andorra is the guarantee of making big savings. Indeed, on the spot the tax on tobacco products is practically three times lower than in France. The only solution to fight against tobacco tourism according to Herve Natali, responsible for Seita's territorial relations: harmonizing prices. " As long as fiscal harmonization with our neighbors has not been put in place, increasing the prices on cigarettes will not fight against the prevalence of smoking but will simply encourage the French to cross the border to save money."
PHILIPPE COY ENRAGE AGAINST CUSTOMER LEAKAGE!
The president of the confederation of tobacconists Philippe Coy is on the same wavelength: " It is unacceptable to see this aspiration of customers. With this fiscal dumping of Andorra, a parallel market has been created and this favors mafia organizations. Andorra must no longer be an El Dorado for cheap tobacco". A situation that has lasted for years. Tobacconists request a parliamentary mission and recently met the president of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly Eric Woerth.
The confinement had made the happiness of tobacconists in France. Tobacco sales increased by more than 30% in March and 23,7% in April among tobacco dealers. The confinement and the travel limit had encouraged smokers to stock up at their local tobacconists. The purchase of cigarettes abroad and the illicit trade cause the loss of five billion in tax revenue for the state each year.
In France, 30% of the population smoked in 2019 according to official figures. Seita estimates that the number of smokers in France is 1,4 million higher than the official figures.
Source : Ladepeche.fr/
