Malta holds out as EU backs wider tobacco excise rules

All EU member states except Malta are prepared to support a revision bringing more tobacco and nicotine products under the bloc’s excise rules, Ireland’s finance minister, Simon Harris, said after talks in Brussels. But unanimous backing is required, leaving the proposed changes without agreement for now.

Harris said he hoped the 27 countries could reach a deal in December after further discussions. Malta is particularly opposed to raising the minimum excise duty, he said.

The revision would extend EU rules to newer products such as vapes and nicotine pouches, which are popular in some Scandinavian countries. Sweden and Finland appear to support bringing nicotine pouches under the rules, Harris said, although no tax rate for them has yet been set.