31/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission launched on Tuesday 30 March a public consultation to help prepare its review of EU tobacco taxation rules, scheduled for 2021 and announced in its Beating Cancer Plan (see EUROPE 12650/1). In a report published in February 2020, the Commission already considered that the current rules were less effective than before in deterring tobacco consumption (see EUROPE 12422/15). The directive, which dates from 2011, has not kept up with market developments, as it does not include new products such as electronic cigarettes or heated tobacco. Member States have also requested the modernisation of the regulatory framework on tobacco taxation (see EUROPE 12498/35). Interested parties have until 22 June to submit their comments on this website: https://bit.ly/2Pe9DPt (MF)