Big tobacco firms accused of flooding foreign markets to encourage smuggling into UK to help their fight against tax rises
A report by campaigners Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said that multinational tobacco companies send more products to some countries than there is demand which leads to some of the tobacco products being smuggled back to Britain, allowing the firms to lobby government for lower duty on legitimate cigarettes to make them more attractive to smokers. Leading figures in the cigarette industry denied the claims, however firms have recently been punished for oversupplying some European countries. HMRC said supply for cigarettes was exceeded by 240 per cent in some countries. The Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) said tax on cigarettes continued to increase, with Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget in March laying out a two per cent rise above inflation. A TMA spokesman said: ‘The illegal market is clearly growing as consumers seek cheaper products elsewhere. Plain packaging will be a gift to the criminal gangs who wish to flood the UK market with cheap, counterfeit tobacco.’
Related Posts
Alibaba Taps BassiurTo Tackle Counterfeiting
Just days after the U.S. government issued a stern warning to the China-based...
Fake HP ink toners, cartridges worth close to Rs 30 crore seized in India
Counterfeit HP products valued at approximately INR 30 crore have been seized...
Civil Defence Arrests 7 Fake Petroleum Product Dealers In Akwa Ibom
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested seven persons...
Customs seizes more smuggled garlic
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intensifies its drive against the illegal entry of...