Alternative tobacco and nicotine products in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic: The approved law (consolidated package) to introduce excise tax for nicotine pouches and increase taxation for heated tobacco has been sent for publication in the Collection of Laws on 1st December. Nicotine pouches will be taxed at a rate of CZK0.40 (€0.01) per g as of 1st January 2024. The rate will be adjusted annually, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.01), CZK0.80 (€0.03), CZK1.2 (€0.05), and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g. Heated tobacco tax will increase to CZK3,300 (€134) per kg as of 1st January 2024, and will then increase gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK3,300 (€134), CZK3,470 (€140), CZK3,650 (€148), and CZK3,830 (€155) per kg. The package also introduces changes to the Act on the Protection of Health from the Harmful Effects of Addictive Substances, which aims to prohibit any economic benefits from the sale of heated tobacco and nicotine pouches as of 2024.

Czech Republic: Last week, the bill (consolidated package) to introduce excise tax for nicotine pouches and increase taxation for heated tobacco was signed by the president. Nicotine pouches will be taxed at a rate of CZK0.40 (€0.01) per g as of 1st January 2024. The Ministry of Health’s overview stipulates that nicotine pouches will be taxed gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.01), CZK0.80 (€0.03), CZK1.2 (€0.05), and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g. Heated tobacco tax will increase to CZK3,300 (€134) per kg as of 1st January 2024, and will then increase gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK3,300 (€134), CZK3,470 (€140), CZK3,650 (€148), and CZK3,830 (€155) per kg. The package also introduces changes to the Act on the Protection of Health from the Harmful Effects of Addictive Substances, which aims to prohibit any economic benefits from the sale of heated tobacco and nicotine pouches as of 2024.

Czech Republic: The State Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority has updated the list of notified tobacco products and their ingredients.

Czech Republic: On Wednesday (8th November), the bill (a consolidated package) to introduce the excise tax for nicotine pouches and increase taxation for heated tobacco was approved by the Senate. If signed off by the president, nicotine pouches will be taxed at a rate of CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g as of 1st January 2024. The Ministry of Health’s overview stipulates that nicotine pouches will be taxed gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.017), CZK0.80 (€0.033), CZK1.2 (€0.05), and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g. Heated tobacco tax will increase to CZK3,300 (€134) per kg as of 1st January 2024, and will then increase gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK3,300 (€134), CZK3,470 (€140), CZK3,650 (€148), and CZK3,830 (€155) per kg. The package also introduces changes to the Act on the Protection of Health from the Harmful Effects of Addictive Substances, which aims to prohibit any economic benefits from the sale of heated tobacco and nicotine pouches as of 2024.

Czech Republic: The list of tobacco products notified to the State Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority this month has been updated and can be found on the authority's website.

Czech Republic: On Monday (16th October), the bill to introduce excise tax for nicotine pouches and increase taxation for heated tobacco was referred to the Senate after being approved by the Chamber of Deputies. If further approved by the Senate and signed by the president, nicotine pouches will be taxed at a rate of CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g as of 1st January 2024. The Ministry of Health's overview stipulates that nicotine pouches will be taxed gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.017), CZK0.80 (€0.033), CZK1.20 (€0.05) and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g. Heated tobacco tax will increase to CZK3,300 (€134) per kg as of 1st January 2024, and will then increase gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK3,300 (€134), CZK3,470 (€140), CZK3,650 (€148), and CZK3,830 (€155) per kg.

Czech Republic: On 16th October, the bill to introduce excise tax for nicotine pouches and increase taxation for heated tobacco was approved by the Chamber of Deputies. If further approved by the Senate and signed by the president, nicotine pouches will be taxed at a rate of CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g as of 1st January 2024. The Ministry of Health's overview stipulates that nicotine pouches will be taxed gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.017), CZK0.80 (€0.033), CZK1.20 (€0.05) and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g. Heated tobacco tax will increase to CZK3,300 (€134) per kg as of 1st January 2024, and will then increase gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK3,300 (€134), CZK3,470 (€140), CZK3,650 (€148), and CZK3,830 (€155) per kg.

Czech Republic: The bill to introduce the excise tax for nicotine pouches has recently started a third reading in the Chamber of Deputies. If further approved by the Senate and signed by the president, nicotine pouches will be taxed at a rate of CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g as of 1st January 2024. The Ministry of Health's overview states that nicotine pouches will be taxed gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g, CZK0.80 (€0.033) per g, CZK1.20 (€0.05) per g and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g.

Czech Republic: The Czech Republic has notified the EU via the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) of the draft decree amending Decree 82/2019 on tobacco labels, seeking to introduce excise tax labels for nicotine pouches from 1st January 2024. The bill to introduce excise tax for nicotine pouches has recently had a second reading in the House of Representatives. If further approved by the Senate and signed by the president, nicotine pouches are going to be taxed at a rate of CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g as of 1st January 2024. According to the Ministry of Health overview, the tax on nicotine pouches will be introduced gradually over the next four years, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g, CZK0.80 (€0.033) per g, CZK1.2 (€0.05) and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g.

Czech Republic: The national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil said at the Economics of Prevention conference that the main approach in addiction policy should be the principle of harm reduction, including proportional regulation of addictive substances according to their harmfulness, media reports. Vobořil specified that prevention and regulation are among the pillars of the Policy Action Plan in the field of addictions for the years 2023 to 2025, instead of bans and zero tolerance.

Czech Republic: The coalition government has agreed on the final changes to the budget consolidation package, media reports. According to the Ministry of Health overview, the final tax rates proposed for nicotine pouches have been reduced. Nicotine pouches are going to be taxed gradually for the next four years, as follows: CZK0.40 (€0.017) per g, CZK0.80 (€0.033) per g, CZK1.2 (€0.05) and CZK1.70 (€0.07) per g (instead of immediately to CZK3.45 [€0.14] per g as in the original proposal).