Tobacconists propose crackdown on tobacco smuggling and counterfeiting in Alpes-Maritimes

The president of the Alpes-Maritimes tobacconists' federation, Pierre Romero, has proposed solutions to combat tobacco smuggling and counterfeiting, citing an unprecedented crisis in the sector. He calls for reduced price gaps with Italy, a return to a one-carton import limit, and permanent closures of illegal vendors. Romero reported a 7% sales decline in 2025 and a 17% drop in early 2026, making the department France's hardest hit. He attributes this to high taxes, with a pack costing €13.50 in France versus €6.50 in Italy, driving smokers to foreign retailers and illegal networks where counterfeiting now represents 20% of the parallel market. He advocates for stronger sanctions, including permanent closures for shops selling illicit tobacco, and supports a proposal by deputy Bernard Chaix for harsher penalties. Romero dismisses full European price harmonization as unrealistic but seeks to reduce disparities and negotiate the import threshold back to one carton.