Home Politics Europe Italy Celebrates Huge Reductions in Excise Tax on E-Liquids

Italy Celebrates Huge Reductions in Excise Tax on E-Liquids

With votes by Italy’s League and Five Stars (Coalition), the consumption tax on e-liquids is reduced by a significant 90% on non-nicotine-containing liquids, and 80% on the nicotine containing types.

Diane Caruana

November 30, 2018

With these votes, the amendment to the tax decree that reformulates the consumption tax on refill liquids for e-cigarettes, has passed into the Senate Finance Committee. The amounts equate to 4cents per ml of liquid without nicotine and 8cents on nicotine-containing types. This will be a significant reduction from the previous tax which equated to approximately 40 cents per ml on both kinds of liquids.

From now on manufacturers must comply with the TPD, and can only sell nicotine liquids that contain a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per milliliter.

With regards to online sales, e-cig manufacturers will also be able to sell e-liquids online after registering with the tax (customs) warehouse. Additionally, from now on, manufacturers must comply with the European Tobacco Directive (TPD), and can only sell nicotine liquids that contain a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per milliliter. A similar regulation applies to nicotine placed on the market in other forms: powder, gel or capsules.

In case of non-compliance, retailers will be fined 150 thousand euros, and have their AAMS (Monopoly) authorization revoked. Furthermore, marketing e-liquids without an AAMS authorization will invoke a smuggling charge.

High prices had driven vapers to the foreign market

Back in 2016, a parliamentary intergroup had pointed out that e-liquids should have brought a revenue of €85 million into the country, as opposed to the €5 million collected by the Department of Finance. According to group member Sebastian Barbanti, the ridiculous prices had driven consumers to the foreign market.