Ireland''s Illegal Cigarette Trade Among Highest in Europe

Source from:  Sunday World 03/31/2014

New figures compiled have shown that Ireland remains high on the list of European countries being targeted by the illegal tobacco trade.

Ireland is third highest on the list of EU countries behind Latvia and Lithuania for non duty paid tobacco (NDP) in 2013, however both Baltic states have decreased there NDP significantly since 2012, as Ireland's remains the same at 28.3 per cent.

Ireland also has the second highest average price for a pack of 20 cigarettes in the EU at €9.40, with the UK slightly ahead on €9.94, however the UK have also managed to decrease their NDP level from 21.5 per cent in 2012 to just 15.6 per cent in 2013.

The correlation between high price and high NDP levels is strong with Ireland and France having some of the highest prices in the EU - but also third and fourth in the highest for levels of NDP.

Ireland is also one of the highest taxed for tobacco products with approximately 78 per cent of the price of every packet of cigarettes goes to Government in excise and VAT.　Norway, who are non EU, charge €11.84 per pack and also have the highest level of NDP in Europe of 49.2 per cent. Enditem