Moroccan Government Rejects Opposition Proposals to Increase E-Cigarette Taxes

The Moroccan government has dismissed proposed amendments from opposition groups in the House of Representatives regarding the 2026 budget bill, which sought to increase taxes on e-cigarettes and similar products.

This decision was made during discussions in the Finance and Economic Development Committee, where Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance responsible for budget matters, stated that the proposed tax increases would not effectively reduce consumption of these products.

Mr. Lekjaa remarked, "While we support efforts to combat these products, raising taxes is not the sole solution, similar to traditional cigarettes." He added, "The health risks associated with nicotine and alcohol products are acknowledged, but solutions do not always involve increasing consumption or import taxes."

The government official also cautioned against unintended consequences of imposing additional taxes, noting that a new tax on traditional cigarette imports could lead to increased risks and potential smuggling activities, especially following last year's tax hikes.

Opposition groups had proposed amendments to Article 5 of the budget bill, advocating for tax increases on a range of products, including e-cigarette liquids, similar devices, shisha tobacco accessories, and non-rechargeable e-cigarettes.

This debate reflects ongoing political controversy over the best methods to address harmful products, with the government favoring a balanced approach that considers economic and social factors, while the opposition views tax increases as an effective tool to reduce consumption.