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UAE to ban waterpipe tobacco, e-cigarettes without digital tax stamp from March

Abu Dhabi - Launching phase two of the 'Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products Scheme'.

Importing any type of waterpipe tobacco (known in Arabic as 'Mu'assel') or electrically heated cigarette plugs that are not marked with 'Digital Tax Stamps' will be prohibited across the UAE as of March 1, 2020, asserted the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) on Tuesday.
The ban is in keeping with the timeline set for launching phase two of the 'Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products Scheme', the FTA explained, adding that it serves to protect consumers from commercial fraud and low-quality products.
The Authority called on producers, importers, and distributors of these products to abide by the system, as directed in Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2018 on Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products.
The Stamps allow for tracking the designated products from the manufacturing facility and until they reach the end consumer, ensuring they satisfy the set standards and criteria, and have met their Excise Tax obligations.
In a press statement issued today, the Authority stressed the importance of implementing FTA Decision No. 02 of 2019 on Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products, which went into effect on November 1, 2019.
The Decision saw the authority begin providing Digital Tax Stamps in collaboration with De La Rue, the company operating the system, allowing importers and producers of waterpipe tobacco and electrically heated cigarette plugs to place their orders for Stamps they could fix onto their merchandise to indicate that they have paid all Excise Taxes.
What does the rule say?
The FTA decision stipulates that as of March 1, 2020, all Designated Excise Goods outlined in the Decision will no longer be allowed to be imported to the UAE unless they are marked with Digital Tax Stamps. Then as of June 1, 2020, any supply, transfer, stockpiling, or possession of these products will be banned unless they are marked with Digital Tax Stamps.
FTA Director-General Khalid Ali Al Bustani asserted that implementing phase two of the 'Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products Scheme', which consists of expanding it to include waterpipe tobacco and electrically heated cigarette plugs, is a continuation of phase one, where the sale or possession of any type of cigarette not bearing the Digital Tax Stamps was banned across all local markets in the UAE as of August 1, 2019.
"The Scheme supports the FTA's efforts to collect taxes, combat tax evasion, protect consumers from commercial fraud, prevent the sale of subpar products in local markets, and help protect the environment and public health," he added.
"The Federal Tax Authority sought to execute a comprehensive awareness campaign to make sure local markets are prepared, well in advance, for implementing the second phase of the scheme," Al Bustani explained.
The FTA Director-General went on to reveal that the Authority has started organising a series of training programmes for inspectors from Departments of Economic Development and Customs Agencies across the emirates.
The Authority explained that the Digital Tax Stamps are registered in the FTA database and electronically embedded with data that can be read using a dedicated device, which allows inspectors to verify that all taxes due on these products have been paid, and ensure that products are not counterfeit or illegally supplied.
Producers and importers of all types of waterpipe tobacco and electrically heated cigarette plugs can place their orders to purchase Digital Tax Stamps from the system operator - once they are accredited by the Authority - to place them on the packaging of their products before they leave the factory to be supplied to local markets across the UAE.
Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2018 on Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products outlined the mechanism for applying the Digital Tax Stamps on Designated Excise Goods to indicate that all due Excise Tax has been paid.