The tax would be far from bringing as much income as expected by the government
A 22% tax on 10 ml e-liquid bottles (3.73 euros) had been set by the Agenzia delle Dogane e Dei Monopoli (Italian Customs Agency) based on comparisons with the traditional cigarette, in the absence of any scientific standard to support such equivalence.
The president of the Anafe Confindustria (producers trade association), Massimiliano Mancini is satisfied with this decision, but remains cautious. He said his association has lost a lot of time and money with the judicial process.
Massimiliano Mancini has denounced the failure of this tax, which was to bring 115 million in 2015 according to government forecasts , but has actually only received 3.5 million euros over six months.
For the manufacturers, the consequences have been detrimental for the economy and the health of Italians: Prices had increased, supply had been reduced, customers turned towards foreign markets and the underground economy and tobacco products have benefited of it.
Nothing says whether the next steps will be favorable to vapers. Especially taking into account the positions of the Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, who posted his support on several occasions in Philip Morris International’s activities in Italy, notably by granting an advantageous tax system IQOS.
