18^th December 2001 - immediate

Ministersswat away European Commission meddling on anti tobacco smuggling strategy

ASH warned the European Commission to stopits attempts to undo the UK anti-smuggling strategy for tobacco [1]. Mr. FritsBolkestein, Commissioner for the internal market, has threatened legal actionagainst the government over its tough clampdown on bootleggers using theChannel ports.  Today the Customs andExcise responded to Mr. Bolkestein, rejecting his complaints. [2]

Clive Bates, Director of anti-tobaccogroup ASH said:

“Ifwe want to do something about cancer, heart disease and emphysema, then we haveto back up the policy of high cigarette taxes with uncompromising actionagainst the smugglers. 

“Tobaccosmuggling could undo all the effort that has gone into reducing smoking, andwhen the Commission starts interfering in British tax and health policy, itshould remember that people will die as a result.

ASH warmly supported the robust responsefrom Paul Boateng (Financial Secretary to the Treasury), refuting and rejectingcomplaints from the Commission and acknowledged Customs success in tacklingbootlegging [3].

“TheCustoms strategy launched last year is really paying dividends, but its notsurprising that the villains that have lost out are fighting back.  What is shocking is that the smugglers havesomehow managed to enlist the support of the European Commission in theircampaign to weaken Customs controls. 

“Thegovernment and European Commission are now in a staring contest and it looks asthough ministers have no intention of blinking first.

ASH was especially scathing aboutCommissioner Bolkestein's approach. Bates said:

“Hejust blundered in, announced his policy on television, made a completelyinappropriate call for European tax harmonisation and then failed to produceany credible evidence to back his allegations of excessive bordercontrols.  All he had was anecdotalaccounts that had reached him as part of an orchestrated campaign and he neverbother to check if this was the work of smugglers trying to restore theirsleazy but lucrative trade. 

Heseems so obsessed with a vision of a borderless, harmonised single Europe thathe would rather open the floodgates to smugglers than support the Britishgovernment in its efforts to overcome the black market menace..

Ifthey get away with weakening border controls, the Commission will get the prizeit really wants, which is tax harmonisation by the back-door.

Contact: Clive Bates +44 (0) 20 7739 5902(office) + 44 (0) 77 6879 1237 (mobile) ISDN available

[1] See ASH letter to Mr. Bolkestein August2001

Mr. Bolkestein's response to ASHOctober 2001

ASH letter to Members of EuropeanParliament December 2001

[2] See HM Customs press release responding The Commission 18 December2001

[3] See HM Customs press release announcing 76% cutin bootlegging November 2001