Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what track and trace system will be in operation for cigarettes, other tobacco products such as IQOS and substitutes such as e-cigarettes after the UK leaves the EU.

Until the UK leaves the EU, we continue to be bound by the requirements of its Directives, which includes implementing a track and trace system for all tobacco products. For cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, this must be in place by May 2019 and for other tobacco products, by May 2024.

In February 2018, the UK government announced plans to introduce a new category of tobacco product for heated tobacco products, such as IQOS. However, these products and e-cigarettes are not captured under the planned EU system to be in place by May 2019.

It is not possible to comment on post exit scenarios until our future relationship with the EU has been agreed. However, irrespective of EU exit, the government remains committed to introducing a global track and trace system for tobacco products under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade Protocol.