The NFRN has spoken out against a tobacco register for Welsh retailers and said more needs to be done to tackle the illicit tobacco trade.

NFRN national president Ray Monelle and Welsh retailer John Parkinson gave evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee at the National Assembly of Wales.

They said that with a proposed registration fee of £30, plus an additional £10 per new store, independent retailers would have to sell on average 111 packs of cigarettes or take £886 in cigarette sales to cover the cost of the register.

“In places that have introduced a tobacco retailer register, such as Scotland, there has been no evidence to show it has reduced illicit tobacco, but instead it has added even more administrative burdens on responsible, honest retailers,” said Monelle.