BVTE Highlights Polish Cigarettes as "Smuggled Cigarette of the Week"
The German Tobacco Industry Association (BVTE) has designated a Polish special edition of L&M Blue Label cigarettes as its "Smuggled Cigarette of the Week." The association warns that tax increases exacerbate smuggling.
Berlin – The German Tobacco Industry Association (Bundesverband der Tabakwirtschaft und neuartiger Erzeugnisse, BVTE) has selected a Polish special edition of L&M Blue Label cigarettes, named "Nasze Lato" (Our Summer), as its "Smuggled Cigarette of the Week." While this summer edition is an authentic product intended for the Polish market, its import into Germany without proper taxation constitutes smuggling.
BVTE emphasizes that significant price differences across European tobacco markets encourage consumers to purchase cheaper cigarettes abroad. Poland has been identified as one of the primary source countries for smuggled cigarettes entering Germany. L&M is a popular brand both domestically and internationally, making it attractive for cross-border purchases and organized smuggling operations.
The association clarifies that the "Nasze Lato" pack presented is a genuine product, verifiable through its Polish tax stamp and the EU's mandatory track-and-trace code. Despite its authenticity, importing these cigarettes exceeds Germany's personal use allowances, rendering it illegal. BVTE reminds consumers that tobacco products are only considered for personal use if intended exclusively for the traveler, and free distribution to others is prohibited.
Jan Mücke, BVTE's General Manager, criticizes the German government's proposed tobacco tax increases. He argues that further tax hikes will widen the price gap with key purchasing markets like Poland, thereby increasing the incentive for consumers to buy cigarettes abroad. This would lead to fewer domestic sales, reduced tax revenue for Germany, and further fuel illegal trade. BVTE estimates that one in five cigarette packs consumed in Germany is not taxed domestically.
Through its "Smuggled Cigarette of the Week" series, BVTE aims to raise awareness about the various forms of illegal tobacco trade. The association highlights that illicit trade poses a substantial problem, impacting tax revenues and the domestic retail sector.