Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – "We are facing a very dangerous European directive that could negatively impact a crucial supply chain, resulting in the loss of extremely important jobs. Tobacco cultivation is a very important component of agriculture in Italy, the leading one in Europe, yet it almost seems that what happens in our country is overshadowed by the decisions of these directives.
For this reason, we will wage a resolute battle at the EU level to protect the sector." This was stated by Claudio Durigon, Undersecretary of Labor and Social Policies, speaking in Rome at the presentation of the "Report on the Distribution of Smoking and Smokeless Products 2026," promoted by Logista in collaboration with the Tor Vergata Foundation.
Regarding tax policies and combating the black market, "we must avoid the temptation to continually raise taxes on this sector," explains Durigon. "Increasing taxes would be a grave mistake, as it would only benefit the smuggling and illicit market, penalizing consumers and businesses operating legally.
In a time of profound technological transformation, less restrictive rules are needed, capable of supporting and giving perspective to the sector."
Regarding worker skills and protection in a transition phase also driven by artificial intelligence, "training represents the fundamental lever for managing the ongoing changes." As a government, "we are investing significant resources: we have allocated up to €4 billion for training and professional retraining, and large supply chains must be able to access these tools to upgrade their workers' skills." This innovation process must encompass the entire sector, from agricultural fields to next-generation products. "Agriculture has undergone a period of significant transformation, and it is essential to incentivize research and innovation in smokeless and non-smokeable products. We must intensify these studies and continue to provide concrete responses both to the needs of the national production and distribution chain and to protect citizens," concludes Durigon.
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