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Filtered by Regulations — 27 articles

Nicola Sudan

4 March 2026

3 min read

What Does Cannabis ‘Pharma Shift’ Mean for US Traceability Systems?

On 18 December 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the US Attorney General to expedite the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I drug (high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use) to a Schedule III drug (moderate potential for abuse and acknowledged as having medical use).

Excise Products Regulations Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2025

8 min read

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 Products1, the FCTC Secretariat released its latest Protocol implementation status report2, 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.

Government Illicit Trade Regulations

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

2 min read

South Africa Launches Plan to Combat Falsified and Substandard Medicines

In September, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) released its Traceability Guideline Implementation Roadmap to accompany a broader national action plan to combat falsified and substandard (SF) medicines. The guideline aims to enhance supply chain transparency and regulatory oversight through unique product identification across the health sector.

Regulations Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

2 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Smurfit Appointed ID Issuer for Tobacco Traceability in Ireland

Smurfit Westrock Security Concepts (SWSC), the Irish high-security printing and identity management solutions provider, has been awarded a contract by Revenue Commissioners (Revenue), Ireland, to provide 110-150 million unique identification codes per year for all tobacco related products imported and sold in the country.

Companies Excise Products Regulations

Nicola Sudan

2 Sept. 2025

4 min read

EU Faces Backlash Over Tobacco Tax Reforms

Portugal has become the latest EU member state to officially oppose the European Commission’s proposed reforms to the Tobacco Excise Tax Directive (TED) – especially the one calling for a sharp increase in minimum tax rates. According to Portugal, this will drive consumers to the illicit market, reports The European Business Review.

Excise Products Regulations Tax & Revenue

Chander S Jeena

29 June 2025

2 min read

DPP Could Double the Life Value of Products

Upcoming EU regulations are expected to transform the fashion resale market by potentially doubling the lifetime value of products. Research from Bain & Company and eBay suggests that consumers could reap up to 65% of these benefits. This shift offers a unique opportunity for brands to enhance their value chains through increased transparency, trust, and circularity, moving beyond mere regulatory compliance.

Regulations

Sven Bergmann

27 May 2025

4 min read

The UK’s Vaping Duty Stamp: A Promising Reform – If Backed by Enforcement

The UK’s decision to implement a new vaping products duty, paired with a mandatory duty stamp, marks a pivotal evolution in its regulatory posture toward nicotine-containing vape products.

Excise Products Regulations Tax Stamps

Aftab Baloch

27 May 2025

5 min read

Pakistan Introduces Fuel Tracking Law... But Systemic Issues Need Addressing First

According to the Pakistani press, the country’s government has introduced an amendment to the 1934 Petroleum Act to implement real-time tracking of petroleum products, from import and production to retail sale. This move aims to reduce massive annual revenue losses estimated at PKR 300-500 billion ($1.1-$1.8 billion), due to smuggling and adulteration of petroleum products.

Countries Excise Products Regulations

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2025

2 min read

FCTC Celebrates 20 Years – But Illicit Trade Still a Big Challenge

On 27 February 2025, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) celebrated the 20th anniversary of its entry into force.

Regulations

Nicola Sudan

30 May 2024

3 min read

White Paper Calls for Stronger EU Alignment to WHO FCTC

In 2023, an informal EU parliamentary working group on tobacco products, led by French MEPs Anne-Sophie Pelletier, Pierre Larrouturou and the late Michèle Rivasi, organised a number of roundtables to discuss how the permeability of some European Commission departments to tobacco industry lobbying was causing delays in the revision of two important regulations (see TSTN July 2023).

Excise Products Regulations

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Francisco Mandiola

26 Sept. 2023

7 min read

Economists in Chile Report Higher Cigarette Revenues and Lower Returning Exports

As a large number of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ readers are already aware, tobacco and alcohol producers spend significant amounts of time and effort lobbying against the installation of tax stamp and traceability systems that are fully managed by national revenue authorities.

Excise Products Regulations Tax & Revenue

Nicola Sudan

24 May 2023

3 min read

EU MEPs Raise Tobacco Lobbying Concerns… but are Their Voices Going Unheard?

In April, the Informal European Parliamentary Working Group for preparing the revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (IPWG TPD) held a workshop with civil society organisations, to address the lobbying efforts and ‘soft power’ of the tobacco industry to influence EU policies.

Excise Products Regulations

Nicola Sudan

24 May 2023

5 min read

20 Years of WHO FCTC – Achievements and Challenges

One of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) celebrates its 20th anniversary in May 2023.

Government Regulations

Nicola Sudan

30 March 2023

6 min read

Lebanon Launches Tobacco Authentication and Traceability Programme

Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon was guest of honour at the recent launch of a countrywide authentication and traceability programme to combat tobacco illicit trade and promote economic reform.

Countries Excise Products Free Free

Francisco Mandiola

7 March 2023

6 min read

Chile Launches Joint Tax/Customs Campaign to Tackle Illicit Cigarettes

It’s not all about new constitutions, riots and uncontrollable forest fires lately in Chile. There’s actually been some interesting news with respect to traceability, with press releases from both the tax authority, Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII), and the national customs service, Aduanas de Chile.

Countries Excise Products Regulations

Nicola Sudan

27 Jan. 2023

4 min read

Implementing Tax Stamp and Production Monitoring in Pakistan – A Perfect Storm?

Looking at the interplay of challenges arising from the implementation of Pakistan’s tax stamp and production monitoring system, during 2021 and 2022, one might say Pakistan is riding a perfect storm.

Countries Regulations

Telita Snyckers

27 Jan. 2023

7 min read

Tax and Customs Administration: Trends Shaping 2023

Across tax and customs administrations, there are several key trends that are of some relevance to the secure marking and traceability space.

Regulations Tax & Revenue

Nicola Sudan

1 Dec. 2022

2 min read

ITSA Launches ISO 22382 Review

The international standard ISO 22382:2018, which was published in October 2018 as a guidance for tax stamp issuers on best practice in the design, sourcing, issuance, and monitoring of tax stamps, is due for review in 2023.

Associations Free Regulations Free

Ian Lancaster

5 June 2022

3 min read

ISO Tax Stamp Standard: Four Years and Counting

The Tax Stamp and Traceability Forum™ was an ideal gathering to learn how ISO 22382:2018, the international tax stamp standard, is being used. It gave the opportunity to hear revenue agencies’ and tax stamp suppliers’ attitude to the standard four years after it was published.

Regulations

Nicola Sudan

10 March 2022

3 min read

NGOs Advise EU to Eliminate Roles Allocated to Tobacco Industry

The Smoke Free Partnership, a European coalition of NGOs working to mobilise governments to make tobacco control a political priority, has raised concerns about the track and trace provisions of the EU Tobacco Products Directive.

Excise Products Regulations

Latest News

What Does Cannabis ‘Pharma Shift’ Mean for US Traceability Systems?

Protocol Progressing – But Mind the Gaps, Says MOP4 Report

South Africa Launches Plan to Combat Falsified and Substandard Medicines

Smurfit Appointed ID Issuer for Tobacco Traceability in Ireland

EU Faces Backlash Over Tobacco Tax Reforms

DPP Could Double the Life Value of Products

The UK’s Vaping Duty Stamp: A Promising Reform – If Backed by Enforcement

Pakistan Introduces Fuel Tracking Law... But Systemic Issues Need Addressing First

FCTC Celebrates 20 Years – But Illicit Trade Still a Big Challenge

White Paper Calls for Stronger EU Alignment to WHO FCTC

Economists in Chile Report Higher Cigarette Revenues and Lower Returning Exports

EU MEPs Raise Tobacco Lobbying Concerns… but are Their Voices Going Unheard?

20 Years of WHO FCTC – Achievements and Challenges

Lebanon Launches Tobacco Authentication and Traceability Programme

Chile Launches Joint Tax/Customs Campaign to Tackle Illicit Cigarettes

Implementing Tax Stamp and Production Monitoring in Pakistan – A Perfect Storm?

Tax and Customs Administration: Trends Shaping 2023

ITSA Launches ISO 22382 Review

ISO Tax Stamp Standard: Four Years and Counting

NGOs Advise EU to Eliminate Roles Allocated to Tobacco Industry

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