Tobacco regulations tightened in Spain and Gibraltar

The Government has also taken further steps over the past week to comply with its obligations under the Gibraltar Protocol by publishing a package of measures comprising eight separate pieces of legislation. These measures implement the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. Gibraltar has in fact just ratified this text.

For its part, the Spanish government[2] also strengthens its tobacco regulations and plans to increase tobacco taxes. New tobacco market regulation and tax regulations are being considered to replace legislation deemed obsolete and not amended since 1998.[3].

An association between the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Health on the subject

The Ministries of Budget and Health are working together on these issues. The Ministry of Health wants to increase taxes on tobacco products in order to reduce their consumption. The Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, wants to increase taxes on these products and harmonize the taxation that applies according to these product categories. For example, cigarettes are currently taxed more heavily than rolling tobacco. Tobacco currently generates 9 billion euros in taxes and the planned increases should occur in such a way that bulk purchases cannot be made in advance.

The Ministry of Health also intends to extend the number of smoke-free areas, particularly in vehicles where children are present, and to increase sanctions against importers of illicit products supplying parallel markets.

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