France Nixes Tobacco Tourism

The France parliament has passed a bill prohibiting anyone in France to carry more than ten packets of cigarettes outside their home, according to a published report.

Under the legislation, the transport of more than 200g of cigarettes bought retail for personal use will be banned, and the quantity that may be stored at home will be limited to 10 cartons, or 2kg. If the bill is signed into law, those caught in violation will be fined.

Parliament approved the amendment to the 2006 state health budget, despite the opposition of President Chirac´s center-right government because it breaches European Union laws on the single market, the Times Online report added.

French cigarette currently ranks as the third most expensive European cigarette, following the U.K. and Norway, with as high as 40 percent increase in taxes in two years.