Spain's Socialist Party proposes gradual decrease of nicotine pouch tax rate to 0.10 euros/gram by 2030

Nov.04

Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) has submitted a legal amendment to the Congress proposing a gradual reduction of the excise duty on nicotine pouches. The current rate of €0.10 per gram would be phased in progressively until 2030. The plan sets the rate at €0.02/g in 2026, rising by €0.02 annually until reaching €0.10/g in 2030. PSOE says this measure would mitigate price shocks and make the tax system more progressive.

Key Highlights

Tax phase-in plan: €0.10/g duty to be introduced gradually through 2030.
Annual progression: 2026 (€0.02/g), 2027 (€0.04/g), 2028 (€0.06/g), 2029 (€0.08/g), 2030 (€0.10/g).
Legislative vehicle: Amendment attached to an EU crypto directive transposition bill.
Purpose: Avoid sudden price hikes, ensure fiscal progressivity.
EU tension: Italy, Sweden, Greece, Romania, and Czechia accuse Spain of trade barriers.

2Firsts, November 2, 2025 — Madrid (Europa Press)Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) has registered a legal amendment in the Congress of Deputies seeking to make the €0.10 per gram excise duty on nicotine pouches more progressive by phasing it in over five years, until 2030.

Taking advantage of the parliamentary procedure for a bill transposing a European directive on cryptocurrencies, PSOE proposed that the excise duty be reduced to €0.02/g in 2026, increasing incrementally to €0.04/g in 2027, €0.06/g in 2028, €0.08/g in 2029, and €0.10/g in 2030.

In its justification, PSOE recalled that the current tax was introduced alongside the law implementing a global minimum tax for multinational corporations. However, given the substantial price increases this rate implies for certain products, the Socialist group considered it “appropriate” to implement it gradually.

The proposal also revives tensions between Spain and five EU countries — Italy, Sweden, Greece, Romania, and the Czech Republic — who have accused Madrid of unjustifiably restricting the free movement of goods with its draft royal decree regulating tobacco-related products, including nicotine pouches.

According to Swedish authorities, Spain’s rule limiting nicotine content to 0.99 milligrams per pouch effectively constitutes a “de facto ban” that excludes all products currently on the European market.

Source: Europa Press

References:

[1] El PSOE registra una reforma legal en el Congreso para bajar los impuestos a las bolsas de nicotina

Also Read:

[1] Spain to Tighten E-Cigarette Regulation: Public-Place Ban, Advertising Limits, Flavour Controls

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