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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES BY DEPUTY S.S.P.A. POWER OF ST. BRELADE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2014
Question
Could the Minister indicate what steps, if any, are being taken to control the amount of tobacco product being imported informally into the Island so that sale of tobacco outside night clubs, bars and restaurants can be stopped and can he advise whether the annual estimated loss of revenue of up to £8,000,000 to Treasury as a result of the smuggling of tobacco and informal importation of duty free is a realistic figure?
Answer
The following steps are being taken to control the amount of tobacco being imported into the Island without payment of duty.
- Officers in the Customs & Immigration Service continue to monitor this type of passenger traffic and depending on the circumstances either seize, charge duty, or prosecute individuals contravening the duty free allowance.
- Extra resources are being allocated to identifying passengers importing goods in excess of the duty free allowance and particularly cigarettes. The Customs & Immigration Service have received funding to employ 2 temporary officers for 3 months from June 2014. (These are the busiest months for C&I Officers on the frontiers).
- A review of the tobacco duty free allowance is being considered in liaison with Guernsey. Further consultation will take place.
Whilst there is evidence to suggest that many travellers are making full use of their duty-free tobacco allowance, and in some cases exceeding it, it is not possible to say whether the annual estimated loss of revenue mentioned by the Deputy in his question is realistic. In addition there is no evidence or intelligence to suggest commercial tobacco smuggling is taking place.