Press Release: Taxation: Commission refers Portugal to Court of Justice over excise duty rules for cigarettes

The European Commission referred Portugal to the European Court of Justice on the 10 July 2014 for failing to change its excise duty rules related to the marketing of cigarettes.

In Portugal, a time limit for the sale of cigarettes is set down, linked to the fiscal stamp on the packaging. The design of the tax markings in Portugal changes regularly and a new tax rate frequently applies with the new marking. Cigarettes cannot be sold any later than 3 months after the end of the year that they are released for consumption.

EUObserver, 11.07.14: EU states not toeing the line on tobacco, equality laws http://euobserver.com/institutional/124949

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