Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2018 to Question 176456 on Tobacco: Smuggling, if his Department will publish the details of representations made by the tobacco industry on the issue of the implementation of the tobacco track and trace system.

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.