Tobacco: Smuggling

(asked on 9th January 2019) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department (a) is taking to implement track and trace in plain packaging and (b) plans to take to ensure track and trace provides maximum (i) traceability and (ii) revenue collection.


Answered by
Robert Jenrick Portrait
Robert Jenrick
This question was answered on 14th January 2019

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has conducted a competitive tendering exercise to appoint an independent ID issuer who will be responsible for the issue of unique tracking codes and operator identifiers. The tender documentation specified that bids must comply with the EU Tobacco Products Directive and Implementing Regulations. This will enable traceability from the point of manufacture or importation to the first retail outlet, and ensures independence from the tobacco industry. Details of the successful bidder will be announced as soon as the contractual arrangements are finalised.

The track and trace system is not a revenue collection system, however when used alongside existing controls it will help enforcement officers identify non duty paid tobacco products and take action against those responsible.

The implementing legislation for the EU Directive specifies strict and comprehensive criteria by which independence from the tobacco industry is determined. This criteria has been, and will continue to be met at all times. While HMRC has no plans to publish representations made by the tobacco industry as they may contain taxpayer or commercially sensitive information, details of meetings between HMRC officials and the tobacco industry are published on gov.uk. This includes meetings to discuss points of detail on the track and trace system, such as the specific placement of the unique ID codes on the packs.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-revenue-customs-officials-meetings-with-tobacco-stakeholders
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