Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions the Government has had with the tobacco industry on the ratification of the World Health Organisation Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

The Government fully supports ratification and implementation of the Illicit Trade Protocol, and the UK played a leading role in negotiating and agreeing the text.

It is UK policy to have all necessary implementing legislation in place before ratifying any international agreement. While many of the requirements of the Protocol are already in place in the UK, the requirement for licensing of tobacco manufacturing machinery is still outstanding. The Government published draft legislation to implement this provision on 5 December 2016 as part of the draft Finance Bill 2017. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the text of the Protocol can be laid before Parliament as a Command Paper with an Explanatory Memorandum. Providing Parliament does not resolve against ratification then the UK can begin the formal ratification process.

HM Revenue and Customs has received a number of representations from MPs, MEPs and health lobbyist supporting early implementation and ratification of the Protocol. No discussions have been held with the tobacco industry on ratification, beyond those conducted as part of the recent consultation on implementation of licensing of tobacco manufacturing machinery.