ENSP advocates and promotes the ratification of, accession to and use of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products by all Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control^[1] (WHO FCTC) and its early entry into force through the active involvement of all relevant stakeholders.

Consequently, ENSP calls on all European countries to give priority to tobacco control and fulfil their obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) by recognizing that the illicit tobacco trade not only exacerbates the global tobacco epidemic and its related health consequences, but that it has security implications through financing organized crime, including drugs, human and arms trafficking, as well as terrorism.

The FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

Read the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products to the WHO FCTC concern the commitment of Parties to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products. One of the main provisions of the FCTC Protocol on Illicit Trade is the tracking and tracing system of tobacco products, from their place of manufacture to the point of sale. The protocol states that the registration of products should be operated in the production unit by an independent company and that the traceability of the course as well as the storage and the maintenance should be secured independently. All costs should, however, be assumed by the tobacco industry.

European Commission Public Consultation on tracking and tracing

In preparation for the process of implementing an EU system for traceability and security features for tobacco products (as provided for under Articles 15 and 16 of the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU), the European Commission organises second face-to-face workshop with stakeholders – including NGOs active in the field, manufacturers of tobacco products, solution providers, supply chain operators and retailers – on 15 May 2017 in Brussels.

The workshop follows the conclusions of both a targeted stakeholder consultation, the public consultation and the First Stakeholder meeting held on the subject.

Read more about Illicit Trade:

• ENSP Fact Sheet: Tracking and tracing to fight illicit trade in tobacco products
• Event Report Towards an EU-wide traceability of tobacco products
• International Tobacco Industry pushes for own Tracking and Tracing Technology
• ENSP and ERS welcome the European Commission’s decision not to renew its anti-fraud agreement with PMI
• MEPs urged to give their consent in the European Parliament vote on the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products to the WHO FCTC
• ENSP and ERS continue to urge EU Commission Vice-President Georgieva to refrain from renewing any agreement with PMI
• ENSP Declaration on World No Tobacco Day 2015: Stop illicit trade of tobacco products