Brussels Conference on Taxation and Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products

The High Level Conference at the European Parliament delivered three presentations – one by the European Commission defending the design of the Track & Trace system, one by Framework Convention Alliance presenting the shortcomings of the system, and one general overview of the Illicit Trade Protocol (ITP) by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control  (FCTC) Secretariat. Hana Ross was on the discussion panel that followed the presentations, together with Anna Gilmore from the University of Bath, Deborah Arnott from ASH UK, Alison Cox from Cancer Research UK, and Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, Head of the FCTC Secretariat. The EU commission defended its complicated Track & Trace system while the other panelists were pointing out its possible flaws. The tobacco industry was not allowed to attend the meeting - their representative tried and were escorted from the meeting. The future of the Track & Trace system in the EU is unknown at the moment. There is a danger that if the EU adopts a weak system, the Meeting of Parties to the ITP will break down.