Protocol Progressing – But Mind the Gaps, Says MOP4 Report

At the recent Fourth Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) to the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products ¹, the FCTC Secretariat released its latest Protocol implementation status report ², including the status of track and trace programmes. While the report concludes that advances are being made with regard to Protocol implementation, there are still wide gaps remaining. Furthermore, the report cautions readers to tread carefully with regard to its findings, given that it is based on data that is generally quite sparse.

Each of the 71 parties ³ to the Protocol are required to establish a track and trace system built on unique, secure and non-removable identification markings (UIMs) applied to unit packs, cartons, master cases and pallets. The UIMs must determine the product’s origin, capture movement along the supply chain, identify diversion points, and ultimately feed into a global information-sharing system to facilitate cross-border enforcement.