Instead of the previous four cartons, Austrians from an EU country should only be allowed to import one carton of cigarettes.
Instead of the previous four sticks (800 pieces of cigarettes), smokers should only be able to take one stick (200 pieces) with them from an EU country, demands tobacco shop manager Josef Prirschl. He speaks out in favor of a significant reduction in the tobacco allowances within the EU. In addition, only 100 instead of 400 cigarillos, 50 instead of 200 cigars and 250 grams instead of 1 kilogram of fine cut should be allowed to be imported.
“A lowering of the exemption limits brings the state additional income in the millions and secures the existence of tobacconists in Austria”, said Prirschl. France is a role model. There, the reduction was already decided in August after the increased tobacco sales in their own country.
Less contraband cigarettes
Due to the corona, there was a sharp decline in smuggled cigarettes in the past year. If many Austrians used to go to Slovenia, Hungary or the Czech Republic to buy cheap cigarettes there, this was sometimes not possible due to the restrictions. Fewer smugglers resulted in higher revenues from the tobacco tax for the state and higher sales and margins for tobacconists. A quantitative import restriction should continue this favorable location for the state and tobacconists. In many of Austria's neighboring countries, cigarettes are much cheaper than in Germany.
As early as 2010, the Supreme Court (OGH) ruled that the restriction of the tobacco allowances within the EU is illegal.
