Combatting Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products: In Search of Optimal Enforcement

This book explores the enforcement of tobacco control policies and argues that illicit tobacco products can undermine market regulation. It analyzes the legal framework and practices in six EU countries and the EU's relationship with third countries to counter illicit tobacco trafficking. The EU Member States analyzed vary in their approaches and challenges, including ratification of the WHO Protocol and border situations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 593 pages
Publication date: 20 February 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book delves into the enforcement aspect of tobacco control policy, contending that the rigorous regulation of the tobacco market will remain unsuccessful as long as illicit tobacco products remain readily accessible. Despite ongoing efforts to combat the illicit tobacco trade, current strategies fall short, plagued by numerous flaws and gaps at both the regulatory and operational levels. The primary objective of this book is to offer a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework and practices related to the enforcement of illicit tobacco products. By integrating criminological and legal perspectives, it presents and critically examines the phenomenon of illicit tobacco trade, as well as the policies, legal frameworks, and practices in six EU countries, specifically Belgium, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Poland, with regard to combating this issue. Furthermore, it explores the relationship between the EU and third countries, such as Ukraine, in terms of how the EU can exert influence on policy and enforcement in these countries to counter illicit tobacco trafficking. While the focus of the book is primarily on the EU, it also includes an analysis of enforcement against illicit tobacco products in the United States. The EU Member States analyzed in the book represent a diverse range of approaches, with some having ratified the WHO Protocol against tobacco smuggling and others not. These Member States hail from different legal traditions and face distinct challenges due to their respective border situations. While Belgium and the Netherlands serve as key entry ports to the EU, Poland and Latvia represent the Eastern land border of the EU, with various regional challenges. Italy, with its long maritime border, poses opportunities for trafficking from Northern Africa and other regions.

In conclusion, this book provides valuable insights into the enforcement of tobacco control policies, highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced by governments and international organizations in combating the illicit tobacco trade. By examining the legal framework and practices in different countries, it offers valuable recommendations for improving policy and enforcement efforts to ensure a healthier and safer global tobacco environment.

Weight: 914g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030678043
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022