Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco's Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, has rejected proposals from the parliamentary opposition to increase internal consumption taxes on e-cigarettes and their refill liquids as part of the 2026 Finance Bill. Lekjaa argued that raising these taxes does not guarantee a reduction in consumption.
During a meeting of the Finance and Economic Development Committee, Lekjaa stated that while the government supports combating these products, taxation is not the sole solution, a principle he also applied to traditional cigarettes. He warned that imposing new taxes on regular cigarette imports could even lead to increased smuggling, especially after previous tax hikes. The opposition had proposed amendments to raise internal taxes on e-cigarettes, refill liquids, shisha devices, and non-refillable e-cigarettes.
Opposition members, like Lahcen Lechgar, countered that the e-cigarettes prevalent in Morocco are rejected in EU countries and their abundance has lowered prices, making them accessible to various groups. He argued that higher taxes would reduce risks. Mustafa El Ibrahimi of the Justice and Development parliamentary group warned of the burden all types of cigarettes place on social protection funds and public health, likening the spread of e-cigarettes in schools and universities to wildfire, suggesting higher taxes would curb demand.
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