Amended EU Tobacco Tax Bill Lowers Rates, Adds Phase-in Period

EU negotiators are considering scaling back a proposed increase in tobacco taxes and pushing the dates that countries would need to raise the taxes four years later than originally planned.

The minimum rates on cigarettes would be lowered to €200 ($232) per 1,000 cigarettes, from an initially proposed hike of €215, according to the amended bill dated Jan. 15 and seen by Bloomberg. That rate would be further lowered to €140 ($162) per 1,000 during a portion of the transition period.

The current tax rate is €90 per 1,000 cigarettes.

The amendments would push back ...