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View allAlternative tobacco and nicotine products in Bulgaria
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Daily regulatory updates of the tobacco alternative sector. It includes weekly podcasts and monthly compilations
1st August 2023
Bulgaria: The 2023 State Budget, published today (1st August), introduces a tax on “tobacco substitutes containing nicotine”, which would include nicotine pouches. From today, the tax will be BGN90 (€46) per kg, rising to BGN95 (€48) per kg from 1st January 2024, BGN105 (€53) from 1st January 2025, and BGN115 (€58) per kg from 1st January 2026.
28th July 2023
- Bulgaria: Parliament has approved the 2023 State Budget, which introduces a tax on “tobacco substitutes containing nicotine”, which would include nicotine pouches. The tax would be BGN90 (€46) per kg from 1st August, BGN95 (€48) per kg from 1st January 2024, BGN105 (€53) per kg from 1st January 2025, and BGN115 (€58) per kg from 1st January 2026. The Budget needs to be signed by the president and published in the Federal Gazette.
29th June 2023
Bulgaria: The Ministry of Finance’s draft state budget introduces a tax on “tobacco substitutes containing nicotine”, which would include nicotine pouches. The tax would be BGN90 (€46) per kg from 1st August, BGN95 (€48) from 1st January 2024, BGN105 (€53) from 1st January 2025, and BGN115 (€58) per kg from 1st January 2026. The draft has to be approved by the National Assembly before it becomes law.
13th June 2023
- Bulgaria: Tomorrow, 14th June, the consultation period ends for the draft law that transposes EU Directive 2022/2100 banning heated tobacco flavours and adding packaging restrictions, depending on whether the product is considered smokeless or for smoking.
1st June 2023
Bulgaria: A draft law to amend the Law on Tobacco and Related Products has been released for public consultation. The draft transposes EU Directive 2022/2100, banning heating tobacco flavours and adding packaging restrictions, depending on whether the product is considered smokeless or for smoking. The consultation ends on 14th June.
14th April 2023
- Bulgaria: The Ministry of Economy and Industry has notified a draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Tax-Insurance Procedural Code to the European Commission's TRIS database, introducing a tax for "tobacco substitutes containing nicotine", which would include nicotine pouches. The tax would be BGN167 (€85.39) per kg from 1st July 2023, BGN184 (€94.08) per kg from 1st January 2024, BGN202 (€103.28) per kg from 1st January 2025 and BGN222 (€113.51) per kg from 1st January 2026. The draft is open for public consultation until 16th April on the Ministry of Finance's website.
28th March 2023
Bulgaria: The Customs authority has told TobaccoIntelligence that BGN55,308,468 (€28.27m) was collected in tax on heated tobacco products in 2020; BGN44,932,636 (€22.96m) in 2021; and BGN68,710,194 (€35.12m) in 2022. Nicotine pouches are not subject to excise tax in Bulgaria.
27th March 2023
- Bulgaria: The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are creating a working group to draft an amendment to the Child Protection Act to prohibit the sale of nicotine pouches to people under 18, press reports. According to health minister Assen Medjidiev, more information about the draft will be released in 15 days. Currently, nicotine pouches are regulated as consumer goods.
20th March 2023
- Bulgaria: The Ministry of Finance has presented a draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Tax-Insurance Procedural Code, introducing a tax for "tobacco substitutes containing nicotine", which would include nicotine pouches. If adopted, the tax would be BGN167 (€85.39) per kg from 1st July 2023, BGN184 (€94.08) per kg from 1st January 2024, BGN202 (€103.28) per kg from 1st January 2025 and BGN222 (€113.51) per kg from 1st January 2026. The draft is open for public consultation until 16th April, when it will then be sent to the National Assembly.
28th February 2023
Bulgaria: From tomorrow, 1st March, the tax on heated tobacco will rise to BGN282 (€144.50) per kg. The rate is due to go up again to BGN331 (€169.60) per kg in 2024, BGN380 (€194.70) in 2025 and BGN400 (€205) in 2026.
20th January 2023
- Bulgaria: Members of We Continue the Change, a centrist party with the second most seats in Parliament, have presented a bill to amend the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products. Among the measures proposed are an expansion of the prohibition of marketing and advertising, including the obligation of health warnings on advertisements. The bill would affect heated tobacco products.
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