France ends limit on cigarettes bought from other EU countries
Authorities say the move will make it easier to stop smugglers but it has been criticised by tobacconists and anti-smoking activists
Before the EU limit was lifted, people were allowed just one large pack of cigarettes (200 cigarettes) each
GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock.
France - along with the rest of the European Union - has now lifted the limit on buying cigarette packets in other EU countries.
The limit ended on Friday, March 29, in accordance with EU regulation. Before that, the limit was just one large pack of cigarettes (200 cigarettes) per person.
Authorities say that the changes will make it easier for customs officers to combat cigarette smuggling.
Tobacconists: ‘It’s the end of us’
Tobacconists and newsagents in France - especially those located at the borders of Italy and Spain - now fear too-high competition from other EU countries.
In Spain, taxes on cigarettes are significantly lower than in France. Two cartons of cigarettes (400 cigarettes or 20 packs) cost from €107 there; half the price of the same packs in France.
In February, tobacconists and newsagents marched against the planned changes. "It's the end of us,” said one. “We have lost half our customers.”
Some are now calling for prices to be standardised across the EU.
Read also: France reviews increasing cigarette prices to €12 per pack
‘The tobacco lobby is winning’
Anti-tobacco activists have also criticised the change.
Bertrand Dautzenberg, president of the Paris Sans Tabac association and a lung specialist, said that this is “a win for the tobacco lobby”, and that the change will harm public health.
“With this change, Europe and the Council of State have decided that health isn't really that important, but what is important is the freedom of the market,” he told FranceInfo.
"It is completely stupid from a health perspective and from an economic point of view, because cancer and heart attacks cost the social security system a lot of money,” he said. “Tobacco is the leading cause of avoidable death. [Tobacco] should not be subject to the laws of the market.”
He said that lifting the limit was effectively “telling consumers to go and buy their cigarettes in a country where they are cheaper”. He said the message was: “You can now get lung cancer or a heart attack for €7 a day instead of €12.”
Read more: Throwaway cigarette ‘puffs’ to be banned in France
It will now be up to customs officers to determine if the quantity of cigarettes brought into France are for ‘personal use’ or are contraband.
Mr Dautzenberg added that the definition of ‘personal use’ was now too loose, because there is no official limit.
Previously, the EU directive had stated that Member States could not set a limit under 800 cigarettes per person, but the decree issued by the government in France does not specify an amount.
