The illicit trade market, in particular tobacco and alcohol, is a costly £3.6bn burden to both legitimate retailers and the Treasury.

The NFRN has campaigned against measures such as plain packaging which may increase the volume of illicit trade. We have also called for the government, Trading Standards, police and HMRC to do more to combat illicit trade. Counterfeit tobacco and alcohol are a particular concern to independent retailers.The proliferation of these products results in a substantial loss of sales for legitimate retailers. It also poses serious health risks to consumers.

NFRN and Imperial Tobacco team up to fight illicit tobacco

50,000 anti-illicit trade (AIT) packs branded with Imperial’s award-winningSuspect it? Report it! campaign were distributed to UK retailers in January 2017. Each pack contained a range of in-store activation materials, including infographics, posters and stickers. These resources were specifically created to raise awareness and understanding among retailers, their staff and adult smoker customers about the dangers of the illicit tobacco trade.

Peter Nelson, AIT Manager, Imperial Tobacco, said: “Latest reports* suggest around one in six factory-made cigarettes and two in five hand-rolled cigarettes smoked in the UK are of an illicit nature, which is among the highest in the EU. This illegal product can often be unregulated. It also threatens retailers’ livelihoods, brings criminal elements into local communities and deprives government of billions of pounds in much-needed tax revenue each year.

“We strongly believe that collaboration between government, industry and law enforcement is the only way to achieve long-term success, with all partners working together in a focused manner to achieve the government’s objectives of not only reducing the illegal trade, but also helping restrict youth access to prohibited products.”

What to do if you suspect illegal tobacco is being sold

If you have any suspicions around the sale of illegal tobacco where you live, report it! Contact either the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000, NFRN Connect or your local Trading Standards/police. You can also contact your Imperial Tobacco sales representative.

How to follow the campaign

If you would like to read more about the illicit trade, please visit www.suspect-it-report-it.co.uk, or follow @suspect_report on Twitter.

The NFRN has joined forces with several industry associations, representing more than 400,000 people, to fight against the government’s proposed sugar tax. The ‘Face the Facts, Can the Tax’ campaign is supported by a coalition of British businesses who have come together to highlight the damaging economic consequences of the tax. We urge the government to rethink the policy and focus instead on proven solutions that will address obesity. The group includes soft drinks manufacturers, wholesalers, small shops, newsagents, restaurants, bars, and pubs. They are warning the tax will do nothing to tackle obesity, and risks causing thousands of job losses and higher prices for those who can least afford it.

13 October 2016 The NFRN has reiterated its calls for education rather than regulation in its response to the government’s consultation on the proposed sugar tax. In its submission, the NFRN has warned that instead of reducing instances of obesity, a tax on sugary soft drinks will only hit hard working independent retailers who are already reeling from higher costs arising from the newly launched National Living Wage, business rates and from complying with the tobacco display ban. The NFRN reminded the government that in Mexico a soft drinks tax only reduced the daily sugar intake by six calories per person. Instead, the NFRN said that consumers needed to be better educated into the effects of sugar and the alternatives available.

NFRN’s Day of Action against the sugar tax

27 September 2016

Nearly 2,000 independent retailers got behind the NFRN’s call for the government to rethink its plans for a sugar tax on sugary drinks.

Since the NFRN’s Day of Action against the proposed sugar tax on Friday 16 September, almost 1,500 store owners have filled out a postcard to chancellor Philip Hammond registering their objection to the proposal and saying no to the tax. A further 459 have written to their MP, warning the move will devastate their businesses while failing to tackle the UK’s obesity problems.

Posters stating that a potential 58p price increase on a two litre bottle of a sugary soft drink will cause shop closures and job losses have also gone up in thousands of stores nationwide.

NFRN Chief Executive Paul Baxter said: “While we understand the government has got to get to grips with rising obesity levels, we believe the proposal for a sugar tax is flawed. That’s why thousands of independent retailers are joining our call for chancellor Philip Hammond to reconsider and come up with a solution that will not threaten the survival of local independent shops.”

#canthetax

Twitter is a great way to get your voice heard, so make sure you follow the campaign on the NFRN Twitter page and by using the hashtag #canthetax. 

We submitted concerns made by newsagents and convenience stores that the introduction of plain packaging will provide a boost to counterfeiters and the illicit market.In turn, this will have a negative impact on legitimate and responsible businesses as well as public health.