Press Release: Excise duties: the Commission calls on Germany to tax ‘hand made’ cigarettes properly

The European Commission has called on Germany to stop applying a lower rate of duty to rolls of tobacco from which consumers can make their own cigarettes. The Commission believes this practice to breach the Excise Directives applicable which require these products to be taxed like cigarettes. The official request takes the form of a reasoned opinion, which is the second stage in the infringement procedure laid down by Article 226 of the Treaty. If a satisfactory response is not forthcoming within two months of receipt of the reasoned opinion, the Commission may decide to take the matter to the Court of Justice.