Tobacco Control

UK Duty Paid is shown on all packets of cigarettes and pouches of hand-rolling tobacco manufactured, or imported, for sale in the UK.

It is a criminal offence to possess, display, sell or deal in products which do not carry a duty paid fiscal mark. It will also be a criminal offence for a manager to sell, or allow the sale on his premises of products which do not carry a duty paid fiscal mark. The maximum penalty for both offences is £5,000.

If you have information concerning the illegal sales of tobacco goods, you can contact your local Customs and Excise office in confidence at this freepost address

Customs Confidential
Freepost, SEA 9391, P.O. Box 100, DA12 2BR

Or contact the Customs and Excise Free 24 hour hotline, tel 0800 59 5000, email customs.hotline@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

Tobacco Labelling for products that are smoked

The following warnings must be displayed, on the most visible surface, and covering at least 30% of it:

Smokeless Tobacco Products

Smokeless tobacco products which are chewed such as Paan, Paan Masala, Gutkha (right), Betel Quid, Zarda and Supari are required under the Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) Regulations 2002 to carry on the most visible surface of the packet the warning:

“This tobacco product can damage your health and is addictive”

Any person who supplies a tobacco product which does not comply with the markings and warnings requirements commits an offence.

Under the Tobacco for Oral Use (Safety) Regulations 1992 it is an offence to supply tobacco for oral use (unless the product is to be smoked or chewed) in powder or particle form, or in form which resembles food - particularly those presented in sachet portions or porous sachets, such as snus. This ban does not however apply to nasal snuff.

Picture Warnings

All cigarette packets must carry a picture warning which highlight the danger of smoking, and should persuade people to give up.

For all other tobacco products such as Cigars and Hand Rolling Tobacco stock may be sold up to the  30 September 2010.