The texts that allow CBD and vaping products to be regulated according to the tobacco model are ready and should appear in the 2026 budget project, although “no one can say what will be the content” of the text that will finally be presented, the director general of Customs said on Friday.
Invited to the annual congress of the Confederation of tobacconists, customs chief Florian Colas represented the administration that supervises tobacconists in the absence of the Minister of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, who had resigned.
After the surprise resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, should appoint a prime minister on Friday afternoon, who could present the finance (PLF) and Social Security financing (PLFSS) bills on Monday.
Tobacconists are asking that sellers of vaporizers and CBD be subject to the same “training and location” rules as tobacco sellers, which, according to the outgoing president of the professional organization of tobacconists, Philippe Coy, is part of the commitments of Amélie de Montchalin, with whom she “exchanged at length” on Thursday.
Parallel market
He also assured that in the latest versions of the budget project there was a “reduced” tax of 0.03 cents per milliliter on vaping products and not “a punitive tax” of 0.15 cents/ml, “which remains fully absorbable for this universe.” Currently these products are not subject to any specific tax.
Electronic liquids escaped a first tax last year: the Senate rejected a tax proposal of 0.15 cents/ml, considered unviable by the sector.
Tobacconists, some of whom also sell vaping products, believe the tax increases are driving parallel trade, one of their main concerns in recent years.
Florian Colas welcomed Philippe Coy’s eight years of presidency and presented to his successor, Serdar Kaya, “three great challenges that we must face together.”
The first: “that the tobacco consumed in France is purchased in France in its establishments.”
In the negotiations on the review of European rules on tobacco taxation, France “will be attentive to bringing tax levels between member states closer together,” he assured.
“It will also be very firm on the need to review the conditions for the importation of tobacco by individuals”, now increased to four cartridges following a court decision in 2024 that adapts to European regulations.
He also resumed the so-called Colbert anti-trafficking operations, the last of which in early June led to the seizure of more than 37 tons of tobacco.
“Of the 1,250 companies controlled, 65% sold tobacco illegally. This gave rise to 108 requests for administrative closure,” added Florian Colas.
The deputy director of customs, Corinne Cleostrat, also indicated that the State has just filed a complaint against Carklop, a ride-sharing service for the purchase of cigarettes abroad, for tobacco advertising, in violation of the public health code.
The other two challenges facing tobacconists, according to Florian Colas, are security, with an increase in attacks against tobacco transporters, especially in Brittany, and the continued transformation of tobacconist activity in the face of the decline in tobacco sales.
Source: BFM TV
