Here’s to Another 100 Years!

At the end of April, Gelmer Leibbrandt, Managing Director of Royal Joh Enschedé, signed a new contract with the Dutch Customs Authority for the printing of tobacco tax stamps, thereby continuing a service that has already lasted for over 100 consecutive years.

Enschedé also has a contract with the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports for printing special security feature labels, known as VHK-stamps, for tobacco products not using tax stamps. These include duty-free products sold in airport shops to passengers travelling outside the EU. The labels comply with the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) requirement for all products to carry overt, semi-covert and covert security features – even those sold in duty-free outlets.

The size of the VHK stamp (2cm x 4.4cm) is equal to the size of the tax stamp, and must be affixed to tobacco packages in the same way and on the same spot as the tax stamp.