Tracking and Tracing of Tobacco Products: Lessons Learned and Best Practices

The positive – and less positive – aspects of the EU tobacco traceability programme, and recommendations for an optimum system that works both inside and outside the EU.

These are important times for global tobacco track and trace systems.

On the one hand, the EU Tobacco Products Directive is undergoing a mandatory periodic review and, on the other, the parties to the WHO FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products have until 2023 to implement the track and trace provisions of the Protocol.

In light of these global developments, this paper looks at what we’ve learned so far with regard to tobacco track and trace and what should be the best practices for government authorities to take on board going forward.