The Moroccan government has officially rejected proposals to increase consumption taxes on electronic cigarettes in its 2026 finance bill. The decision counters demands from opposition lawmakers who sought higher levies on e-liquids and refillable devices to deter youth use.
Budget Minister Delegate Fouzi Lekjaa defended the policy before parliament’s Finance Committee, stating that higher taxes “do not guarantee lower consumption.” He argued that fiscal measures alone cannot resolve nicotine dependency.
Lekjaa noted that recent tax increases on combustible tobacco products had already tested market tolerance. Imposing further duties on e-cigarettes risks expanding illicit trade networks across the country. The government plans to adopt a strategy centered on regulation and public health awareness rather than fiscal penalties.
Opposition members from the Socialist Party and the Justice and Development Party had lobbied for steeper duties on e-cigarette liquids, refill devices, and hookah substitutes, citing rising usage rates among students. However, the government maintained that stable pricing is necessary to prevent an influx of unregulated, smuggled goods.
