In Seine-et-Marne, a partnership between the State and tobacconists that raises questions

A partnership between public authorities and tobacconists signed in Seine-et-Marne on 1^er June 2023 aims to secure the tobacco sales channel. Beyond the very special attention shown by the authorities for this profession, the effectiveness of this strategy raises questions.

Raising awareness among tobacconists about security, securing tobacco outlets against attacks and theft, and increasing cooperation between the different parties, these three aspects were at the heart of the partnership signed on 1^er June between the Seine-et-Marne delegation of the Confederation of tobacconists and several representatives of the public authority[1]Among these were the prefect of Seine-et-Marne, the public prosecutor of Meaux, the departmental director of public security, the commander of the departmental gendarmerie group and the regional director of customs for Paris-Est.

Strengthening protection for tobacconists

This departmental partnership agreement provides for awareness-raising actions on the behavior to adopt in the event of an attack. To secure their tobacconist outlets, tobacconists will receive advice from the police in order to strengthen their level of protection and will be subject to targeted security operations.

Tobacconists are also called upon to collaborate with Customs to combat trafficking and parallel trade in tobacco. They are also invited to report any smuggling activities they observe on the "Stop Tobacco Traffic" application, as well as to report any illegal tobacco sales activity (night-time grocery store sales, illegal shisha tobacco sales, "Uber Tobacco", etc.).

Silence on the role of tobacco manufacturers in off-network purchases

On December 6, 2022, the Minister Delegate for Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal, presented a “Tobacco Plan 2023-2025”, which announced a substantial reinforcement Customs resources and equipment to combat the illicit tobacco trade. On January 17, 2023, this same Minister Delegate signed a transformation plan of the tobacconist profession, extending state aid to this profession for five years and by 290 million euros.

Like the tobacco industry, tobacconists suggest reducing taxes to limit smuggling, while this could be curbed by strict application of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. And like the tobacco industry, they tend to overestimate the share of counterfeit and contraband cigarettes, while three-quarters of tobacco purchases outside the tobacconist network are made up of cross-border purchases resulting from the oversupply of these markets by tobacco manufacturers.

However, tobacconists do not raise the issue of oversupply of border tobacconists, whether in Belgium, Luxembourg or Andorra. Nor do tobacconists ever mention the fact that, with a few exceptions, cigarettes circulating on parallel markets come from cigarette factories.

The attitude of the public authorities, who have data on the major role of the tobacco industry in these parallel markets without taking any action, also raises questions. Added to this is a form of impunity for tobacconists despite the permanent violations of the legislation in force in the field of smoking prevention, whether it is non-compliance with the ban on advertising in places of sale or, even more so, mass sales to minors. These numerous elements are therefore perplexing, while the government renews its intention to make the fight against smuggling a priority.

Keywords: Tobacconists, Customs, Gabriel Attal, Seine-et-Marne, public aid.

MF

[1] Signing of the departmental partnership agreement relating to security and the fight against parallel tobacco markets, Prefecture of Seine-et-Marne, updated June 7, 2023, consulted June 12, 2023.