New IT provider for tobacco track and trace to take over

The UK tobacco track and system will be moving to a new provider from July 1.

The HMRC has in November last year appointed Dentsu Tracking for the establishment and operation of the new digital tobacco track and trace system, replacing the current provider De La Rue.

The new system becomes operational on 1 July 2022. All businesses engaged in the manufacture, importation, or supply of tobacco products in the UK will need to report their activities to the new system.

Retailers registered on the existing track and trace system will have all their information automatically transferred to the new Dentsu system, meaning their Economic Operator Identifier Code (EOID) and Facility Identifier Code (FID) will remain the same.

Retailers are expected to receive an email from Dentsu about the automatic registration that gives access to a test system, and a second email between 20 June and 1 July that will confirm retailers’ registration to the live Dentsu UK track and trace system.

Retailers are advised not to delete this email that will also include log in details to access and manage their account. Retailers will be given a default password that must be changed when they first log on to the new Dentsu system.

Dentsu Tracking and HMRC have issued to all stakeholders a joint communication on the track and trace project, explaining the key characteristics of this initiative.

Dentsu UK track and trace resource portal can be viewed here.