New sanctions to tackle illicit tobacco duty evasion – UK Govt

These measures provide new powers to HMRC for tougher sanctions for contravening the requirements outlined in ‘The Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) Regulations 2019’.

The measure also builds on the existing successful collaboration between HMRC and Trading Standards, who will now be able to make referrals to HMRC where they find evidence that a contravention of the Tobacco Track and Trace system has occurred. 

• HMRC will manage the administration and issuing of the relevant sanctions under the new powers.

• The sanctions operate on an escalating model for repeated behaviour which also reflects the quantity of illicit tobacco products detected.

Further information on these new measures can be found here.

If you have any questions about this change, contact the Tobacco Sanctions Team by email: tobaccotracktraceteam@hmrc.gov.uk