TTTC1300 | Relevant law

Legislation in relation to the UK Tobacco Track and Trace system

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/574 This Regulation lays down the technical standards for the establishment and operation of the traceability system provided for in Article 15 of Directive 2014/40/EU.

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/576 of 15December 2017 On technical standards for security features applied to tobacco products.

The TobaccoProducts (Traceability and Security Features) Regulations 2019 Regulations came into force on the 20 May 2019, in relation to:

• cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco supplied in the UK on or after 20 May 2019 and

• tobacco products other than cigarettes or hand rolling tobacco supplied in the UK on or after 20 May 2024.

The TobaccoProducts (Traceability System and Security Features) (Amendments) (EU Exit)Regulations 2020 These regulations ensure the tobacco products traceability scheme and security feature scheme for the whole of the United Kingdom (UK) continued to function effectively at the end of the transition period, when Great Britain lost access to the European Union (EU) system. The regulations also make some specific provisions in order for the EU traceability and security features schemes to continue to apply in Northern Ireland, allowing the UK to meet its obligations under the Windsor Framework which forms part of the Withdrawal Agreement. This meant cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco products manufactured in, or imported into, Northern Ireland were tracked under both systems from 1 January 2021.