Tobacco industry lobbies against tax increase
17-11-2009
The Dutch tobacco industry and retail sector have written to the government urging it not to increase the tax on cigarettes still further.
The Dutch duty on tobacco is already well above EU minimum rates and a further increase will discriminate against smokers and encourage the trade in illegal cigarettes, SSI and NSO say in the Telegraaf.
Ministers are planning to increase tobacco duties to pay for a reduction in inheritance tax.
According to smokers lobby group Rokersbelangen, 72% of the price of a packet of cigarettes in the Netherlands is made up of taxes.
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