Brussels, 10/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is taking action against Member States that impose minimum retail selling prices on cigarettes. The Commission takes the view that such practices infringe Community law, distort competition and just benefit manufacturers by safeguarding their profit margins. The European Commission has already launched and will continue launching infringement proceedings against Member States introducing this measure. Member States say that designing measures on tobacco control are necessary to ensure a high level of public health protection and to tackle smoking. The Commission recognises that price and tax measures are effective means for reducing tobacco consumption. However, tax and price measures must be in line with other Treaty obligations. In this respect, the European Court of Justice has already stated that: imposing a minimum price is incompatible with the current legal framework, since the setting of a minimum price by public authorities inevitably has the effect of limiting the freedom of producers and importers to determine their selling price and that minimum prices are not necessary, since the health objectives may be attained by increased taxation of tobacco products. To achieve the objective of reducing tobacco consumption, the Commission advocates an increase of the excise duties on cheap cigarettes.