Consumer group accuses EU of ‘political deal-making’ over vape tax plans

The latest draft compromise text on the EU’s revised Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) has drawn criticism from the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA), which claims political bargaining rather than science is shaping proposed tax rates on nicotine products.

According to the group, the latest text circulated under the Cypriot Presidency – and reported by Politico – adjusts excise proposals across several product categories in an apparent effort to secure agreement among EU member states.

Compared with an earlier draft, the new version reportedly lowers proposed rates for cigars and cigarillos, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, while increasing the final target excise rate for e-liquids.

Alberto Gómez Hernández, WVA policy manager, said the repeated changes to the draft showed there was “no evidence-based approach” guiding the proposals.

“It is now clear that public health comes second to political deal-making and that there is no evidence-based approach guiding these tax choices,” he said.

The organisation claimed that objections from some member states over steep tax increases on cigarettes and traditional tobacco products, alongside Sweden’s opposition to minimum excise rates on nicotine pouches, had led negotiators to reduce those proposals while raising taxes on e-liquids instead.

“Less harmful nicotine products are being used as bargaining chips in negotiations between member states,” Gómez Hernández added. “The discussion is not about improving public health, but about increasing tax revenue whilst keeping all member states happy.”

The WVA called on EU governments to reject what it described as a tax framework driven by political compromise rather than scientific evidence. The group said any future excise regime for nicotine products should be transparent, proportionate and evidence-led.