Security features you must put on tobacco product packaging
Check what security features you’ll need put on tobacco product packaging.
If you manufacture or import cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco for the UK market, at least 5 security features must be on the packaging.
You need to find providers of the security features - they must match HMRC’s specifications.
From 20 May 2024, the 5 security features must be on the packaging of all tobacco products.
Security features
You must put the 5 security features, shown in the table, on all unit packets of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco. The security features must be incorporated onto one security label.
| Security feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Colour changing ink | Reveals changing colours when viewed from different angles. |
| Guilloche pattern | Ornamental pattern of 2 or more interlaced bands that are printed in multiple non-standard colours. |
| Microprint | Print using extremely small text that requires magnification to become readable by the naked eye. |
| Anti-stoke ink | An anti-stoke ink that does not rely on florescence or illumination and requires a purpose built tool or a laboratory to be detected. |
| Molecular taggant | Chemical marker, embedded within the base material that requires purpose built tools or a laboratory to be detected. |
You will need to contact the tobacco track and trace team at: [email protected] to obtain specifications of all the security features.
For all tobacco products you must make sure that the security label:
- is fixed to all unit packets of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco in a way that will identify and verify the packet’s authenticity for the entire time the tobacco is placed on the market
- is applied directly to the unit packet, underneath the cellophane wrapper
- is applied in a way that protects the security label from being replaced, reused or modified in any way
- does not obscure the health warnings or the UK Fiscal Mark – the size and dimension of the UK Fiscal Mark will remain unchanged unless previously outlined in Annex 2 of Excise Notice 476
| Packaging type* | UK security label and UID | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Cigarettes (standard and larger boxes) and boxes of hand rolling tobacco – regular packets with a back face dimension typically equal to or more than 72mm by 48mm | 32mm x 16mm security label fixed to the upper section of left-hand side of the packet (when viewed front on). UID to be located on the base of the packet. |
| 1.2 | Cigarettes – rectangular packets with a back face dimension typically equal to or more than 72mm by 48mm, with a depth less than 20.5mm | 32mm x 16mm security label fixed below the health image in the bottom third of the back face of the packet. UID to be located on the base of the packet. |
| 1.3 | Cigarettes (other formats) | 32mm x 16mm security label to be fixed to the top of the packet. UID to be located on the base of the packet. |
| 2.1 | Hand rolling tobacco pouch | 32mm x 16mm or 44mm x 20mm security label fixed horizontally or vertically, immediately below the health image in the bottom third of the front face of the pouch (the flap side), either on the flap or below it, but visible when the flap is closed. UID to be located on the bottom third of the front of the pouch following the same conditions as the security label. The security label may be a fixed to wrap around the bottom of the pouch in a u shape, so long as the top of it is clearly visible in the bottom third of the front face of the pouch when the pouch is placed face up on a flat surface. Subject to agreement with DHSC, the security label may be designed to also function as a closure tab for the pouch as long as it meets all the requirements for the security label, such as being irremovably printed or affixed, indelible, having an identical appearance and is protected from being replaced, reused or modified in any way, meaning the security label will be clearly damaged if removed. |
| 2.2 | Hand rolling tobacco, other formats (excluding hand rolling tobacco boxes) | 32mm x 16mm or 44mm x 20mm security label fixed in a conspicuous position depending on the space available on the packet. UID to be placed a conspicuous position as close to the security label as space allows or on the base of the packet. |
*Pack sizes in mm are based on 3D artwork or actual pack sizes rather than so called ‘flat artwork’ which may be somewhat smaller
Updates to this page
Published 20 September 2018Last updated 31 December 2020 + show all updates
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This page has been updated because the Brexit transition period has ended.
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Some security feature requirements have changed. The unique identifier (UID) has also been replaced with colour changing ink in the list of security features that must be put on tobacco product packaging from 20 May 2019.
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First published.