Rules and regulations on tobacco traceability, traceability labels and security features
Tobacco products must be traceable, have traceability labels and security features as stated by law. Now the rules applies to cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. From 20 May 2024, all tobacco products will be covered, but there are transitional rules. The Public Health Authority supervises that the rules are followed.
Transitional rules
Other tobacco products than cigarettes and rolling tobacco, manufactured in the Union or imported to the Union before 20 May 2024 may be sold without unique identifiers, so called traceability labels, and security features until 20 May 2026.
If the rules are not complied with
The Public Health Agency of Sweden is the supervisory authority for manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, distributors and in some cases retailers, with regard of traceability labelling, security features and traceability. The Public Health Agency may, in its supervisory capacity, issue the injunctions or prohibitions that are necessary for compliance with the law or a regulation issued pursuant to the law. The Public Health Authority may also decide that identifier codes shall be deactivated. A decision on an injunction or prohibition may be accompanied by a fine.
Fines
A fine is an amount of money to be paid if you do not comply with a decision by a supervisory authority. The fine is imposed by a court. The sum can be determined in advance and can amount to several thousand Swedish Crowns.
Regulations
The regulations on which the information above is based, can be found in the following links:
- Chapter 3 Sections 7-11 Act 2018:2088 on tobacco and similar products (riksdagen.se) (in Swedish)
- Chapter 3 Sections 3-8 Regulation 2019:223 On tobacco and similar products (riksdagen.se) (in Swedish)
- Regulation (2019:224) on fees for unique identification markings on tobacco packaging (riksdagen.se) (in Swedish)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/574 on technical standards for the establishment and operation of a traceability system for tobacco products (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Corrigendum to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/574 of 15 December 2017 on technical standards for the establishment and operation of a traceability system for tobacco products (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Consolidated - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/574 on technical standards for the establishment and operation of a traceability system for tobacco products (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Commission's stakeholder manual (eur-lex.europa.eu)
As an operator who deals in tobacco, you always have an obligation to know what applies by law. The information on this website is intended solely to help you, and does not replace what is written in the law. There may also be other laws or regulations from other authorities that you must be aware of. The Public Health Agency continuously updates the content, but we cannot guarantee that the information on the page is always completely up to date.
