Hungary GVH fines foreign companies for illegal tobacco sales online.

Aug.09.2024

Hungary's Competition Authority warns consumers of health risks from illegal tobacco products purchased online from abroad.

According to the Hungarian news agency (MTI), on August 8th, the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) announced that consumers ordering illegally sold tobacco products from foreign websites online may be harmful to health.

Notice reminder that consumers should always remain vigilant and only purchase tobacco products from businesses licensed to sell them. The notice points out that the agency initiated a competition supervision procedure against Airbox Company in early February this year, as the Slovakia-based company may have misleading product sales information on its Hungarian language website.

According to current Hungarian law, scented e-cigarettes and similar cigarette-like e-cigarette devices are prohibited from being sold in the country, and online remote sales of tobacco products are also illegal. After an investigation, the competition regulatory authority found that Airbox company engaged in unfair business practices and imposed the maximum possible fine of 1.89 billion Hungarian forints (approximately $52,000 USD) on them.

The announcement also stated that GVH had taken strict measures against two other Slovak companies for selling e-cigarettes and the popular among underage consumers and particularly dangerous "Elf Bar" products on their Hungarian language websites. The actions of these companies misled Hungarian consumers into believing that these products were being legally sold, ultimately resulting in both companies being fined the maximum amount.

References:

[1] GVH: majdnem 190 milliós bírságot kapott egy szlovák cég e-cigaretta forgalmazása miatt

#Europe #Traditional tobacco #Regulation #Hungary

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