The Commissioner > Functions

The Autonomous Body of the Tobacco Market Commission, a Body under the auspices of the Sub-secretary of the Ministry of the Treasury, was created by Law 13/1998 Governing the Tobacco Market and Taxation Regulations dated 25 May, and is governed by the Statute, approved by R.D. 2668/1998 of 11 December (BOE 23 December).

The Commission has various regulatory and monitoring responsibilities for safeguarding the application of criteria of neutrality and ensuring effective conditions of free competition on the tobacco market throughout the national territory and its objectives include:

• Monitoring to ensure that Market operators, including retailers, act within the applicable framework
• Monitoring the quality of products offered for sale, of those used in their manufacture and of the additives and substances incorporated within said products, without prejudice to the trade secrets of the production industry
• Verifying the content and budgets of promotional and advertising activities of Market agents
• Issuing reports for the establishment of new manufacturers, importers and wholesale distributors
• Awarding and renewing tobacco and stamp outlet licences
• Awarding and renewing permits for points of sale subject to surcharge
• Taking custody of and destroying contraband tobacco products
• Providing arbitration in cases of conflicts between operators
• Reporting cases of violation of free competition laws to the pertinent authorities
• Exercising its legal authority to impose penalties within the scope of its jurisdiction
• Preparing statistics and reports on the Tobacco Market
• Undertaking responsibility for the physical distribution of government stamps and franking products