Spectra Systems-SICPA Consortium Wins Bid for UK Vape Stamps

Spectra Systems Corp has announced that its security printing arm, Cartor Security Printers, is the winning bidder for an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) contract to produce and supply vaping duty stamps. The Cartor bid was submitted in consortium with SICPA.

The estimated contract value is £38.4 million and the contract is based on five years, with an option for an additional year.

Within the consortium, Cartor – which is based in Wolverhampton, UK – will produce and supply the stamps, as well as provide authentication features and associated devices developed by Spectra in the United States.

SICPA will provide additional security inks and authentication elements, as well as an integrated track and trace system. The system includes equipment for coding stamps with unique identifiers, and a central data repository for HMRC.

It was in 2023 that the UK decided to introduce vaping duty, with HM Treasury and HMRC citing the rapid growth of vaping consumption, rising youth uptake, and the emergence of a sizeable illicit and non-compliant market as key drivers – alongside the need to protect future revenues as smoking declined.