From 20 May 2019 all cigarettes and Roll Your Own tobacco placed on the market in Ireland must be traceable. Every packet of cigarettes or Roll Your Own tobacco manufactured or imported after 20 May 2019 must carry a unique identifier. A one-year wash-through period is allowed for cigarettes and Roll Your Own tobacco manufactured or imported before that date.
A retailer who sells directly to the public, and does not store, distribute, or regularly sells to other retailers, is only required to:
- request an economic operator identifier code,
- request a facility identifier code for each premises used to sell tobacco products, and
- request a facility identifier code for any vending machines under their control.
Retailers can apply for identifier codes at https://app.idissuer.ie/economic-operator/public/registration?0
With the prior consent of the retailer, another economic operator may request a retailer’s economic operator and facility identifier codes, on behalf of the retailer. However, it will remain the retailer’s individual responsibility to ensure that they have the identifier codes. You will not be able to order tobacco products marked with Unique Identifier Codes, unless you have received your respective economic operator and facility identifier codes.
Registration
To request an economic operator identifier code, a retailer will need the following information:
- Retailer’s personal or registered company name
- Retailer’s address and Eircode
- Email address
- Tax registration number
- VAT number, if applicable
Once a retailer has an economic operator identifier code, the retailer will be able to request a facility identifier code for each premises and vending machine under their control, used to sell tobacco products to the public.
To request a facility identifier code, a retailer will need the following information:
- Facility address and facility Eircode
- Type of facility (retail outlet)
Where the stock management of a vending machine is the responsibility of a vending machine operator, and not the retailer, then it is that vending machine operator who must apply for a facility identifier code for the vending machine.
More information is available on the website of the ID Issuer appointed for Ireland at https://idissuer.ie/ . Questions about applying for economic operator identifier codes and for facility identifier codes should be addressed to support@idissuer.ie or call the free phone helpline on 00 421 800 222 921 Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:00.
Retailers will not have to record the movement of tobacco products if they only make them available for sale to the public. This is the case even if the retailer moves tobacco products to another retail outlet, so long as the tobacco products had been made available to the public.
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