Let’s stub out cigarette smuggling

TACKLING cigarette smuggling was one topic high on the agenda of the international conference recently held at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 in China.

Algirdas Semeta, the EU Commissioner for Taxation, Customs Union, Anti-Fraud and Audit, visited World Expo to discuss trade between the EU and China. China is the EU’s second biggest trade partner after the USA, but it is also the source of increasing volumes of illegal trade, including tobacco.

The discussions between the EU Commission and China aimed at formulating the best means of halting illegal trade is most welcome. I hope these will go some way towards devising a means of stopping illicit tobacco trade across Europe and in particular in Ireland.