According to some sources, the countries of the European Union are preparing to tax e-cigarettes on the same basis as traditional cigarettes. On Friday 26 February, the ambassadors of the Member States thus accepted the first step towards this tax by asking the European Commission to draft a " appropriate legislative proposal For 2017.
This project should normally be approved without any discussion when Finance Ministers meet on 8 next March. With the conclusions of the Ministers' draft it is stated that e-cigarettes, as well as other "new" tobacco products, could cause " inconsistencies and uncertainties»On the market if they have remained exempt from excise duty. (Excise duties are indirect taxes on the sale or use of certain products. This is usually an amount per quantity of product, eg. per kg, per hl, per degree of alcohol or per 1 pieces, etc…)
It was also stated that excise duties or else a " other specially provided tax ' for new tobacco products made from vapor instead of smoke could help achieve 'public health goals». This work on the new tax system should obviously be intensified " if " the share of these products on the market show an upward trend". Clearly, les prices will increase« .
For information, worldwide sales of e-cigarettes were around 7,5 billion € last year and analysts predict they will reach € 46 billion by 2025 or 2030. Under current rules, all EU countries must impose an excise tax of at least 57% on tobacco products, knowing that currently only VAT is imposed on e-cigarettes (around 20% ).
The February 29, An official from the European Union said that it was "normal" for the price of e-cigarettes to increase after the committee met. For another, " It is still too early to say what effects the excise duties may 
have on prices. »
Advocates of public health such as the Cancer Research UK and European Heart Network fear that corporate lobbyists will ignore the science. With regard toMost health NGOs do not have specific positions on electronic cigarettes considering that they are too new for conclusive research on long term benefits and risks. Finally,he European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, a Brussels-based group, calls for tougher rules from the EU.
For his spokesman, Dominick Nguyen: " We are not talking about being for or against e-cigarettes, but to encourage research and the collection of data on electronic cigarettes in order to be able to make informed decisions.« . THE CEO Hoedeman said: " That it would be quite awkward to put the e-cigarette in the same category as tobacco without having reliable scientific data"
It only remains to wait, hoping that the e-cigarette will not be taxed in the same way as tobacco. Currently, the economic argument is an important factor in the smoker's decision to quit smoking.
Source : Euobserver.com
