UAE
UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has announced that the sale or distribution of any unmarked tobacco products will be prohibited across all local markets from August 1, 2019.
As of May 1, importing cigarette packs not bearing digital tax stamps will be banned, while selling or distributing unmarked cigarette packs is set to be prohibited as of August 1.
According to FTA director-general, Khalid Ali Al Bustani, digital marks will be placed on the packaging of tobacco products and registered in FTA‘s database; the marks contain data that can be read using a sophisticated device. Tobacco manufacturers are required to place the marks on the products within the production facility immediately after packaging if produced in the UAE, or before importing them if they are produced abroad.
The first batch of cigarette packs bearing digital tax stamps has reached UAE markets.