Press Release: European Commission proposes a new system to cut down excise duty fraud

The European Commission presented a proposal on 12 December 2001 for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council that would computerise the system under which excise goods - alcohol, tobacco and mineral oils - are moved between traders in the Community in bond under duty-suspension arrangements . The proposed new system would provide Member States with real-time information about consignments under way, enabling them to plan checks and inspections in advance. The current paper-based system is unable to cope with increasing levels of tax evasion - fraud involving alcohol and tobacco is particularly prevalent - and is unpopular with traders, who find it cumbersome.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/01/433&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/01/433&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/taxation_customs/taxation/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/taxation_customs/taxation/index_en.htm

---