Revenues from excise duties on tobacco products by April 30 amounted to EUR 11.1 million. This means 25.6% or EUR 3.8 million less than last year. Tobacco Agency says that a total of 131.51 tons of cigarettes were sold in the first four months this year, compared to last year’s 264.59 tons. So that’s half!
Finance Minister Darko Radunovic reported these findings after the parliamentary question of MP Aleksandar Damjanovic regarding tobacco revenues.
Damjanovic was also interested in measures being taken by the Ministry to combat cigarette smuggling.
Mr. Radunovic said the Ministry of Finance does not have information on the quantity of tobacco products without excise stamps placed on the black market, but explained that they monitor and analyse revenues on legal cigarettes through the quantity of excise stamps ordered from the Customs Administration by excise taxpayers.
He also said the govt established a Commission for the Fight against the Black Market but did not detail on its precise activities.
The debate between Mr. Radunovic and Mr. Damjanovic will continue in the parliament today.
