Yesterday, Pascal Montredon, the President of the Confederation of tobacconists, accompanied by Jean-Luc Renaud and Michel Guiffès, was received by the Minister of Health. An appointment during which Agnès Buzyn confirmed that the pack of cigarettes will gradually move to 10 €, but without giving the terms and timing, invoking arbitrations to come. Representatives of the tobacconists have indicated that the concern of the profession is rising, and that it will manifest itself during the summer.
THE COMMUNIQUE OF THE CONFEDERATION OF BURALISTS
At the end of this interview, the Confederation sent a statement that we offer here:
Pascal Montredon, President of the Confederation of tobacconists, accompanied by Jean-Luc Renaud, General Secretary and Michel Guiffès, Treasurer, was received this morning by Agnès Buzyn about the package to 10 €. During this meeting, the Minister of Health confirmed that the package will gradually move to 10 €, but without giving the terms and timing, invoking arbitrations to come.
"If anything must come out of this interview, it is the fact that we have been clear with the Minister. We told him about the concern that rises in the ranks of tobacconists, facing this project that can only destabilize the profession. We told him that this concern, if it is not appeased, will manifest during the summer, "said Pascal Montredon.
The President of the Confederation, the Secretary General and the Treasurer have also asked the Minister of Health that the parallel market is finally taken into account by the public health policy. "To reduce the prevalence of smoking, it is necessary to take into account smokers in their entirety, including those who obtain their supplies outside the official network. Otherwise, any policy against smoking is doomed to fail, "says Pascal Montredon. Especially since 27,1% of tobacco is always bought at borders, on the street or on the Internet.
This is the reason why the tobacconists also ask the establishment of a great plan of fight against this parallel market:
At European level, once it is established that tobacco is a dangerous product, it is abnormal that it can circulate freely. "We need to restore strict tobacco import restrictions! "Says the President of the Confederation.
At the national level, it is necessary to put in place a great plan of struggle, with as main measures:
- A moratorium on tobacco taxation
- Coordination between Customs, National Police, Gendarmerie and the judiciary
- Public awareness campaigns
- Strong action at borders, on parcel delivery channels, in neighborhoods where traffic is rampant
- Agreements with expressists to refuse tobacco bought on the Internet
- Reinforced checks on coach operators organizing trips to neighboring countries
- Reinforcement of sanctions: immediate closure of a business selling contraband cigarettes
Finally, representatives of tobacconists called for the development and implementation of a European harmonization of tobacco control policies. In the image of what Emmanuel Macron evoked during the presidential campaign.
Source : Buralistes.fr
