Collection

Tobacco product traceability

Check what you need to do if you manufacture, import, transport, store or sell tobacco products in the UK.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 29 January 2019
• Last updated: 17 July 2023 — See all updates

All unit packets of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco manufactured or imported in the UK must:

• have unique identifiers (UIDs) on the packaging
• have 5 specific security features applied to the packaging if they are manufactured or imported for the UK market
• be scanned at certain points in the supply chain

From May 2024, this will apply to all tobacco products.

If you do not follow the rules set out in this guidance, HMRC may seize the tobacco products.

Manufacturing and importing

• Manufacturing and importing tobacco products
  • 1 July 2022
  • Guidance
• Put unique identifiers (UIDs) on your tobacco products
  • 1 July 2022
  • Guidance
• Security features you must put on tobacco product packaging
  • 31 December 2020
  • Guidance
• Check if your company is independent from the tobacco industry
  • 31 December 2020
  • Guidance

Selling and storing

• Selling and storing tobacco products
  • 1 July 2022
  • Guidance

Transporting

• Transporting tobacco products
  • 31 December 2020
  • Guidance

Get IDs for your business and unique identifiers (UIDs) for your products

• Register with the UK ID issuer if your business is involved in the supply of tobacco products
  • 8 August 2023
  • Guidance

UK tobacco track and trace

• Tobacco track and trace penalties
  • 18 July 2023
  • Guidance

Published 29 January 2019
Last updated 17 July 2023 + show all updates

1. 17 July 2023

   This collection has been updated with information about UK tobacco track and trace penalties.

2. 20 May 2019

   This collection has been updated with information about what will happen if you do not follow the rules set out in this guidance.

3. 1 May 2019

   You can now register with the ID issuer to get IDs for your business and buy UIDs for your tobacco products. New guidance about this has been added.

4. 22 February 2019

   Guidance has been added about putting unique identifiers (UIDs) on tobacco products, checking if your data storage and anti-tamper device companies are independent from the tobacco industry, and what you need to do if you transport tobacco products.

5. 29 January 2019

   First published.