MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Revision of the Tobacco Products Directive: protecting local industry, ensuring a level regulatory playing field and tackling unfair competition in the overseas regions – E-002784/2025

Question for written answer  E-002784/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE)

Economic actors in Réunion are greatly concerned about the revision of the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive.

Between 2022 and 2025, local taxation increased by 20 %, while the dock dues rate reached 70 %, making Réunion the most taxed region of France in relation to its revenue.

Some of the measures mentioned in the report on the application of Directive 2014/40/EU[1] could further increase costs for local producers, who are already struggling, while also encouraging smuggling.

• 1.Can the Commission ensure that the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive will take into account the economic realities of the outermost regions, in accordance with the EU’s strategy[2], by introducing appropriate exemptions?
• 2.Does the Commission intend to publish the evaluation study that is currently being carried out[3]?
• 3.Will the Commission undertake to include a territorial impact assessment[4] and to strengthen controls on imported products in order to both ensure the directive is applied fairly, and tackle unfair competition?

Submitted: 9.7.2025

• [1] COM(2021) 249 final.
• [2] COM(2022) 198 final.
• [3] Study commissioned by the Commission as part of the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive.
• [4] Tool #34 – the ‘better regulation’ toolbox, 2023.