Yesterday at Avellino officials of the Customs and Monopolies Agency – DT IX – Campania have completed an important control operation regarding liquid products for inhalation (PLI), including those coming from non-EU countries, whose release for consumption in Italy is subject to specific restrictions.
Tobacconists and shops specializing in electronic cigarettes and refills, in fact, can purchase inhalation liquids only from tax warehouses. Purchasing from unauthorized channels leads to the suspension of the authorization or license and, for the most serious and repeated cases, to the closure of the business and the indictment for smuggling of the owner.
In particular, this control activity, aimed at countering one of the most significant and innovative forms of tax evasion, was able to materialize thanks to a widespread intelligence and territorial monitoring activity by the Anti-Fraud Office of DT IX Campania.
The Adm inspectors had access to some local businesses located in the municipality of Avellino and led to the discovery and seizure of liquid inhalation products lacking the necessary State mark, an essential requirement for the marketing of the aforementioned inhalation liquids, as they certify their genuineness and legitimate origin.
The absence of this code on the seized inhalation products proves their illicit origin and the fact that they were supplied through parallel channels, as well as the consequent failure to pay the excise tax, to a variable extent depending on whether the liquid contains nicotine or not.
The seizure concerned both disposable electronic cigarettes, bottles containing inhalation liquids with and without nicotine, and finally bottles of pure nicotine that were not marked, with the consequent imposition of fines of over 50.000 euros. Furthermore, with specific regard to one of the businesses checked, the Adm officials further ascertained that the resale activity was carried out without the required authorization from the Customs and Monopolies Agency, therefore, illegally.
Samplings will also be carried out on the seized liquid inhalation products containing nicotine to verify the correct concentration of the same (which cannot exceed 2%) and the possible presence of other harmful substances, for the purposes of product safety and, therefore, to protect the consumer.
Article published on 27 October 2022 - 19:42
Video Chronicles
