The Protocol is not yet in force because it requires 40 parties before it can enter into force. Talking about the FTCF Protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products, she said that the EU has acceded to the protocol as well as 6 Member States. The consequences of illicit trade are a loss of government revenue, increased organised crime and an impact on public with people having easier access to these products. She then explained that she will talk about the protocol and the role it will have to play. Kummer Peiry, Senior Legal Officer, WHO FCTC Secretariat in Geneva, said thatMr Pargneaux gave a very extensive overview of the facts and figures related to illicit trade. New trends in illicit trade & the ways to combat it: the role of the WHO FCTC protocol Session 1: Latest trends in the global illicit trade of tobacco products He finally highlighted that in the framework of this debate, they do not want to promote one technology specifically. He added that the issue of the cost can indeed seem quite irrelevant when one knows the cost this represents for European societies. When one knows the benefits generated by the tobacco industry, it is a small cost. The cost of tobacco tracing is between 0,9 and 1.1 cents per pack. It can be seen with the agri-food industry which complains about the cost of tracing for meat. Industrial players tend to complain about the cost of tracing. On February 21, Japan Tobacco International sponsored an event on the global fight against illicit trade in tobacco products, he stated, before adding that everyone knows the limit of a system from the industry. Policies are not to be influenced by the trade interest of the industry.
He added that they wanted to abide by Article 5.3 of the FCTC WHO Convention. As the chair of the European Parliament Working Group against interference of tobacco industry, he said it would be a bit weird to sit at the same table. He noted that there were no tobacco industry representatives are not in the room. He also mentioned that tracing already exists in other sectors, noting that the specificity of tobacco industry cannot be ignored however. He added that the tracing of products is already implemented in Turkey and Kenya with positive results. It is important to have this debate today to take stock of the different steps and to have better visibility regarding the different scenarios. When implemented, the EU will be the first regional system to have a tracing system for tobacco products and it will set an example.
He said that there are big expectations regarding the EU. In the case of the EU, it represents USD 10 to 12 billion each year of fiscal cost. Illicit trade in tobacco products is estimated to be USD 40 to 50 billion a year. The elimination of illicit trade would also make it possible to increase tax income and contribute to national security as well as lead to a decrease in crime activities.
Smoking is responsible for 6 million premature deaths each year in the world, including 700 000 in Europe. Indeed, if illicit trade was eliminated it would represent a decrease of consumption of around 2%. As a Vice-Chair of the ENVI Committee he wanted to recall that the illicit trade of tobacco products is a public health issue. The secondary legislation on the tracing of tobacco products has to be adopted this year to be fully implemented by 2019. The Tobacco Products Directive entered into force in May 2016. He then explained that 2017 is a very important year. He thanked ENSP for making the event possible and which is an important group of influence also working at scientific level. He explained that the event will address a very important issue which is the tracking and tracing of tobacco products. Gilles Pargneaux (S&D, FR) thanked everyone for coming. Please find a summary of the discussion below. Experts then presented different possibilities for the European track and trace system for tobacco products that needs to be put in place before 2019 following the Tobacco Products Directive entry into force in June 2016. During the different presentations, panellists highlighted the cost of tobacco to European societies in terms of public health, finances and security. On March 2, the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) organised an event on “Towards an EU-wide traceability of tobacco products: ensuring an independent and efficient system to fight illicit trade and protect public health”. Subject: Towards an EU-wide traceability of tobacco products: ensuring an independent and efficient system to fight illicit trade and protect public health Source: European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) event
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