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457359

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the interim results of HMRC's pilot of the Codentify system, when that pilot is due to end, when the final results will be assessed and published, and what benchmarks they have used in that pilot.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL6685
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) takes the restrictions in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) very seriously. These require that the development, implementation and enforcement of tobacco policies as part of public health policies should be protected from the influence of the tobacco industry.</p><p> </p><p>Codentify is a system, developed and introduced by the major tobacco manufacturers on their own initiative through the Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA). HMRC played no part in the development or introduction of the system nor did HMRC require that it be introduced. Codentify codes already feature on packs and are there regardless of any HMRC use of them. The trial HMRC is undertaking is to see whether these existing codes could help officers in the field to authenticate products and help tackle illicit tobacco. No other companies currently provide such codes.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify by HMRC is not part of an exercise to evaluate the wider use of potential tools available on the market. Any such exercise would be undertaken in the context of the implementation of the EU Tobacco Products Directive track and trace security feature requirements, which will be implemented by May 2019 for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>The European Commission is still considering, with Member States, proposals for new pan European security features and track and trace systems, and has yet to determine any technical specifications. HMRC are not evaluating Codentify as a track and trace tool or potential security feature; the aspects of the system being used are entirely separate from the requirements of the Directive.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify is not a formal pilot and there will not be reports or results to publish. Instead the trial will identify the strengths, weaknesses and usefulness of using Codentify to HMRC as an authentication tool in the field. HMRC will review this later in 2016. Some resource has been spent providing access to the system and training officers in the use of the tool. However, this has been minimal and has not been separately identified. The Department of Health leads on public health policy and has been consulted on this initiative. HMRC sees no conflict between its current use of the Codentify system and FCTC requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley grouped question UIN HL6680 HL6681 HL6682 HL6683 HL6684 question first answered 15/03/2016 16:28:46 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

457358

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether HMRC's current pilot of the Codentify system takes account of any known weaknesses of Codentify for the purpose of authentication.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL6684
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) takes the restrictions in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) very seriously. These require that the development, implementation and enforcement of tobacco policies as part of public health policies should be protected from the influence of the tobacco industry.</p><p> </p><p>Codentify is a system, developed and introduced by the major tobacco manufacturers on their own initiative through the Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA). HMRC played no part in the development or introduction of the system nor did HMRC require that it be introduced. Codentify codes already feature on packs and are there regardless of any HMRC use of them. The trial HMRC is undertaking is to see whether these existing codes could help officers in the field to authenticate products and help tackle illicit tobacco. No other companies currently provide such codes.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify by HMRC is not part of an exercise to evaluate the wider use of potential tools available on the market. Any such exercise would be undertaken in the context of the implementation of the EU Tobacco Products Directive track and trace security feature requirements, which will be implemented by May 2019 for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>The European Commission is still considering, with Member States, proposals for new pan European security features and track and trace systems, and has yet to determine any technical specifications. HMRC are not evaluating Codentify as a track and trace tool or potential security feature; the aspects of the system being used are entirely separate from the requirements of the Directive.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify is not a formal pilot and there will not be reports or results to publish. Instead the trial will identify the strengths, weaknesses and usefulness of using Codentify to HMRC as an authentication tool in the field. HMRC will review this later in 2016. Some resource has been spent providing access to the system and training officers in the use of the tool. However, this has been minimal and has not been separately identified. The Department of Health leads on public health policy and has been consulted on this initiative. HMRC sees no conflict between its current use of the Codentify system and FCTC requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley grouped question UIN HL6680 HL6681 HL6682 HL6683 HL6685 question first answered 15/03/2016 16:28:46 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

457357

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether HMRC's current pilot of the Codentify system is consistent with their obligations under the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL6683
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) takes the restrictions in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) very seriously. These require that the development, implementation and enforcement of tobacco policies as part of public health policies should be protected from the influence of the tobacco industry.</p><p> </p><p>Codentify is a system, developed and introduced by the major tobacco manufacturers on their own initiative through the Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA). HMRC played no part in the development or introduction of the system nor did HMRC require that it be introduced. Codentify codes already feature on packs and are there regardless of any HMRC use of them. The trial HMRC is undertaking is to see whether these existing codes could help officers in the field to authenticate products and help tackle illicit tobacco. No other companies currently provide such codes.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify by HMRC is not part of an exercise to evaluate the wider use of potential tools available on the market. Any such exercise would be undertaken in the context of the implementation of the EU Tobacco Products Directive track and trace security feature requirements, which will be implemented by May 2019 for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>The European Commission is still considering, with Member States, proposals for new pan European security features and track and trace systems, and has yet to determine any technical specifications. HMRC are not evaluating Codentify as a track and trace tool or potential security feature; the aspects of the system being used are entirely separate from the requirements of the Directive.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify is not a formal pilot and there will not be reports or results to publish. Instead the trial will identify the strengths, weaknesses and usefulness of using Codentify to HMRC as an authentication tool in the field. HMRC will review this later in 2016. Some resource has been spent providing access to the system and training officers in the use of the tool. However, this has been minimal and has not been separately identified. The Department of Health leads on public health policy and has been consulted on this initiative. HMRC sees no conflict between its current use of the Codentify system and FCTC requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley grouped question UIN HL6680 HL6681 HL6682 HL6684 HL6685 question first answered 15/03/2016 16:28:46 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

457356

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the full costs to date, including staff time, of HMRC's pilot of the Codentify system.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL6682
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) takes the restrictions in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) very seriously. These require that the development, implementation and enforcement of tobacco policies as part of public health policies should be protected from the influence of the tobacco industry.</p><p> </p><p>Codentify is a system, developed and introduced by the major tobacco manufacturers on their own initiative through the Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA). HMRC played no part in the development or introduction of the system nor did HMRC require that it be introduced. Codentify codes already feature on packs and are there regardless of any HMRC use of them. The trial HMRC is undertaking is to see whether these existing codes could help officers in the field to authenticate products and help tackle illicit tobacco. No other companies currently provide such codes.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify by HMRC is not part of an exercise to evaluate the wider use of potential tools available on the market. Any such exercise would be undertaken in the context of the implementation of the EU Tobacco Products Directive track and trace security feature requirements, which will be implemented by May 2019 for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>The European Commission is still considering, with Member States, proposals for new pan European security features and track and trace systems, and has yet to determine any technical specifications. HMRC are not evaluating Codentify as a track and trace tool or potential security feature; the aspects of the system being used are entirely separate from the requirements of the Directive.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify is not a formal pilot and there will not be reports or results to publish. Instead the trial will identify the strengths, weaknesses and usefulness of using Codentify to HMRC as an authentication tool in the field. HMRC will review this later in 2016. Some resource has been spent providing access to the system and training officers in the use of the tool. However, this has been minimal and has not been separately identified. The Department of Health leads on public health policy and has been consulted on this initiative. HMRC sees no conflict between its current use of the Codentify system and FCTC requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley grouped question UIN HL6680 HL6681 HL6683 HL6684 HL6685 question first answered 15/03/2016 16:28:45 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

457355

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of HMRC's pilot of the Codentify system, why no other companies or systems have been asked to participate in such a pilot.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL6681
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) takes the restrictions in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) very seriously. These require that the development, implementation and enforcement of tobacco policies as part of public health policies should be protected from the influence of the tobacco industry.</p><p> </p><p>Codentify is a system, developed and introduced by the major tobacco manufacturers on their own initiative through the Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA). HMRC played no part in the development or introduction of the system nor did HMRC require that it be introduced. Codentify codes already feature on packs and are there regardless of any HMRC use of them. The trial HMRC is undertaking is to see whether these existing codes could help officers in the field to authenticate products and help tackle illicit tobacco. No other companies currently provide such codes.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify by HMRC is not part of an exercise to evaluate the wider use of potential tools available on the market. Any such exercise would be undertaken in the context of the implementation of the EU Tobacco Products Directive track and trace security feature requirements, which will be implemented by May 2019 for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>The European Commission is still considering, with Member States, proposals for new pan European security features and track and trace systems, and has yet to determine any technical specifications. HMRC are not evaluating Codentify as a track and trace tool or potential security feature; the aspects of the system being used are entirely separate from the requirements of the Directive.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify is not a formal pilot and there will not be reports or results to publish. Instead the trial will identify the strengths, weaknesses and usefulness of using Codentify to HMRC as an authentication tool in the field. HMRC will review this later in 2016. Some resource has been spent providing access to the system and training officers in the use of the tool. However, this has been minimal and has not been separately identified. The Department of Health leads on public health policy and has been consulted on this initiative. HMRC sees no conflict between its current use of the Codentify system and FCTC requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley grouped question UIN HL6680 HL6682 HL6683 HL6684 HL6685 question first answered 15/03/2016 16:28:45 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

457354

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk that HMRC's current pilot of the Codentify system would give tobacco companies an unfair advantage in any future tender process.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL6680
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2016 answer text <p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) takes the restrictions in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) very seriously. These require that the development, implementation and enforcement of tobacco policies as part of public health policies should be protected from the influence of the tobacco industry.</p><p> </p><p>Codentify is a system, developed and introduced by the major tobacco manufacturers on their own initiative through the Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA). HMRC played no part in the development or introduction of the system nor did HMRC require that it be introduced. Codentify codes already feature on packs and are there regardless of any HMRC use of them. The trial HMRC is undertaking is to see whether these existing codes could help officers in the field to authenticate products and help tackle illicit tobacco. No other companies currently provide such codes.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify by HMRC is not part of an exercise to evaluate the wider use of potential tools available on the market. Any such exercise would be undertaken in the context of the implementation of the EU Tobacco Products Directive track and trace security feature requirements, which will be implemented by May 2019 for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>The European Commission is still considering, with Member States, proposals for new pan European security features and track and trace systems, and has yet to determine any technical specifications. HMRC are not evaluating Codentify as a track and trace tool or potential security feature; the aspects of the system being used are entirely separate from the requirements of the Directive.</p><p> </p><p>The use of Codentify is not a formal pilot and there will not be reports or results to publish. Instead the trial will identify the strengths, weaknesses and usefulness of using Codentify to HMRC as an authentication tool in the field. HMRC will review this later in 2016. Some resource has been spent providing access to the system and training officers in the use of the tool. However, this has been minimal and has not been separately identified. The Department of Health leads on public health policy and has been consulted on this initiative. HMRC sees no conflict between its current use of the Codentify system and FCTC requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley grouped question UIN HL6681 HL6682 HL6683 HL6684 HL6685 question first answered 15/03/2016 16:28:45 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

446485

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what independent analysis of different systems for tobacco control and product authentication HMRC is proposing to undertake.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL5257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>The EU Commission is currently considering how the track and trace system and security feature provisions of the EU Tobacco Products Directive will be implemented.</p><p> </p><p>Until this is decided HMRC have no plans for independent analysis of different systems for tobacco control and product authentication.</p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley question first answered 02/02/2016 16:18:36 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

446486

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether there is a conflict between HMRC piloting the tobacco industry's Codentify system and its legal action against tobacco companies for failing to control their supply chains.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL5258
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>HMRC is piloting the Codentify system as a product authentication tool that could help tackle the illicit tobacco market.</p><p> </p><p>This has no bearing on the obligations placed on tobacco companies to control their supply chains or on any action taken by HMRC to ensure compliance with these obligations.</p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley question first answered 02/02/2016 16:17:23 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

446483

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Taxation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether HMRC are undertaking any other pilots on product authentication other than that with the tobacco industry's Codentify system; and whether they plan to pilot other systems.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL5255
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>HMRC is piloting the Codentify system, a product authentication tool that is currently used on tobacco packaging and could help tackle the illicit tobacco market.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC are not piloting any other product authentication systems and currently have no plans to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley question first answered 02/02/2016 16:17:03 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

446484

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Tobacco: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the terms of reference are for the HMRC pilot of the tobacco industry's Codentify system for product authentication; how long that pilot will last; on what tobacco products that pilot is being undertaken; and with which tobacco companies that pilot is taking place.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
	uin	HL5256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2016 answer text <p>HMRC is piloting the Codentify system, a product authentication tool that is currently used on tobacco packaging.</p><p> </p><p>The objectives of HMRC’s pilot are to use and test Codentify as a product authentication tool that could help tackle illicit tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>There is currently no specified end date to the pilot but HMRC will review its use of Codentify within 2016.</p><p> </p><p>Codentify is being used to authenticate cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco that carry the code, which are those produced by Phillip Morris International, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Tobacco and British American Tobacco.</p><p> </p><p>No discussions have taken place with these companies on the scope or format of HMRC’s planned review.</p> answering member printed Lord O'Neill of Gatley question first answered 02/02/2016 15:37:32 answering member 4536 label Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley
	tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley