Finance Minister hopes to get more control over setting duties on fuel

Finance Minister Teresa Lubińska assured that the changes would not be implemented earlier than 2007. Next year excise duty will be increased only on tobacco, and it will be lowered on cosmetic products. Unfortunately, this does not mean cosmetics will automatically become cheaper, as cosmetics producers decided they prefer to use the money gained from lower excise on expanding their activity. They argue that this, in turn, would help them to increase employment. The Ministry is also planning some revolutionary changes in the way of setting excise levels. According to the plan, the Finance Minister would be able to set the excise on fuel oil and liquid gas by herself. The draft determines only the maximum level, which the minister will not be able to exceed. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) A.F.