Traceability marking and security feature on tobacco products – this applies to wholesalers and distributors
Wholesalers and distributors of tobacco products may only sell tobacco products with traceability markings and security feature to other economic operators and operators at first retail outlets. To register events more efficient and easy, aggregated unique identifiers can be created.
If you are a wholesaler or distributor of tobacco products, you are responsible for securing that all unit packets of cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco have the correct labelling, including traceability marking and security features. If these markings are missing, the products may not be sold.
From 20 May 2024, the rules on traceability and security features applies to all tobacco products.
Application of aggregated unique identifiers
As a wholesaler or distributor, you are responsible for putting the aggregated unique identifiers on the aggregated units you create. The aggregated unique identifier shall be applied to the aggregated package with a data carrier with both an optical machine-readable code and a human readable code.
More information on ordering unique identifiers and the traceability system
Data carrier
The optically readable code on the aggregate packaging must be in one of the formats specified in Article 21.5 of the Implementing Regulation 2018/574.
In order to distinguish the data carrier for traceability from other data carriers placed on aggregated packages, you shall add the marking ‘EU TTT’ next to such data carrier.
Human readable code
You are responsible for ensuring that each data carrier also contains a code that can be read by humans and that makes it possible to track and trace the aggregated level packages in the database system. If the dimensions of the package permit, the human-readable code must be next to the optical data carrier with the aggregated level unique identifier.
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Rules and regulations on traceability marking and security features on tobacco products
