ECJ BACKS AUSTRIA’S GRADUAL CIGARETTE TRADE LIBERALISATION
October 1st, 2006
BY KEITH NUTHALL
LONG-STANDING European Union (EU) member states with higher EU-mandated levels of excise duty on cigarettes than neighbouring new member states temporarily exempted from such minimum rates, may restrict personal tobacco imports from such countries. This ruling has come from the European Court of Justice in a case involving Austria and Slovenia. Judges said Austria's limiting to 25 the numbers of cigarettes that can be imported without attracting Austrian duty was legal until Slovenia adopted minimum EU excise levels by December 31, 2007.
ENDS
LONG-STANDING European Union (EU) member states with higher EU-mandated levels of excise duty on cigarettes than neighbouring new member states temporarily exempted from such minimum rates, may restrict personal tobacco imports from such countries. This ruling has come from the European Court of Justice in a case involving Austria and Slovenia. Judges said Austria's limiting to 25 the numbers of cigarettes that can be imported without attracting Austrian duty was legal until Slovenia adopted minimum EU excise levels by December 31, 2007.
ENDS
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