20/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has sent France a reasoned opinion, asking it to amend, within two months, its legislation and administrative practice regarding the movement and holding of manufactured tobacco purchased by private individuals in other member states for their own needs. The legislation and practice in question are an obstacle to applying the principle of free movement of goods in the internal market, the Commission says because it: - uses a purely quantitative criterion to assess whether private individuals are holding manufactured tobacco from another member state for commercial purposes; - applies that criterion to each vehicle (not each person) and generally for all tobacco products; - provides for disproportionate penalties; - simply prevents private individuals from importing tobacco products from another member state if the quantity exceeds 2 kg per individual vehicle. (O.L./transl.rt)