Illegally imported vaping products in large quantities being traded from China, resulting in jail terms in Saarbrücken - Smuggling of unTaxed vapor products in vast quantities from China - jail term issued in Saarbrücken
**Man Sentenced for Large-Scale Smuggling of Untaxed E-Cigarettes in Saarbrücken**
A man has been sentenced to imprisonment by the Regional Court in Saarbrücken, Germany, in relation to a case involving the large-scale smuggling of untaxed E-cigarettes from China. The verdict for this case was passed last week.
The alleged activities resulted in a tax loss of 1.1 million euros. The man, who has not been named, is accused of importing untaxed vapes from China and repackaging them on a company premises in Saarlouis, Germany, for resale.
During a search at the beginning of the year, 47 pallets of E-cigarettes were found and seized. The E-cigarettes were repackaged to comply with the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) as transposed into German law, but the man failed to pay the required taxes.
Importers of E-cigarettes into Germany from China must comply with the TPD, which includes notifying the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), ensuring product packaging, ingredients, and marketing comply with TPD requirements, and adhering to age restrictions, labelling, and warning regulations.
As of the latest German regulations, e-cigarettes and e-liquids are subject to a specific e-cigarette tax (elektronische Zigarettensteuer) introduced in Germany in 2022. The tax rates are applied per milliliter of liquid and are differentiated by nicotine content. As of 2024, the standard rate is approximately €0.16 per milliliter for e-liquids with nicotine.
In addition to the specific e-cigarette tax, regular import duties and German VAT (currently 19%) apply to imported goods from China, unless exempt under certain trade agreements. No preferential tariffs currently apply specifically to e-cigarettes from China. All imported e-cigarette products must clear customs, and invoices should accurately declare the contents and value for proper taxation.
Certain flavors, high nicotine concentrations, or devices not compliant with TPD are prohibited from importation. It is important to note that these regulations are enforced uniformly across Germany, meaning Saarbrücken follows the same rules as other German cities.
The man's case serves as a reminder of the importance of complying with import regulations and taxation laws when dealing with goods such as E-cigarettes. For the most accurate, up-to-date technical or operational details, consult the German Customs Administration or the BfR.
- The large-scale smuggling of untaxed E-cigarettes, as seen in the Saarbrücken case, highlights the significance of adhering to employment policies, such as tax laws, for businesses operating within EC countries like Germany, particularly in the finance sector of the general-news category.
- The unnamed man's sentencing for smuggling E-cigarettes from China emphasizes the interconnection between finance, crime-and-justice, and business in the importation of goods, specifically E-cigarettes, where non-compliance with employment policies and import regulations can lead to penalties, as witnessed in this general-news case.
