BRUSSELS THREATENS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CIGARETTE MINIMUM PRICES
July 1st, 2007
BY KEITH NUTHALL
LEGAL action is being prepared by the European Commission against another three European Union (EU) countries over their minimum price systems for cigarettes. Brussels opposes these as an illegal restriction of trade, and recently forced Belgium into abandoning its minimum price system. Now it has sent legal final warnings to Ireland, Italy and Austria, warning them of potential referrals to the European Court of Justice if they do not follow suit. The Commission wants these systems replaced with excise duty increases.
ENDS
LEGAL action is being prepared by the European Commission against another three European Union (EU) countries over their minimum price systems for cigarettes. Brussels opposes these as an illegal restriction of trade, and recently forced Belgium into abandoning its minimum price system. Now it has sent legal final warnings to Ireland, Italy and Austria, warning them of potential referrals to the European Court of Justice if they do not follow suit. The Commission wants these systems replaced with excise duty increases.
ENDS
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