Bestway Wholesale has offered to help its wholesale and best-one customers prepare for the new Track and Trace legislation which impacts the tobacco supply chain from next month.
Over 2,000 customers have already signed up for support via the Bestway Wholesale website, which offers to obtain the relevant codes required as part of the legislation on behalf of retailers.
Retailers will need an Economic Operator Identifier Code for themselves and a Facility Identifier Code for each of the stores in which they sell tobacco products. Registration for codes will be done online and Bestway Wholesale has a service on its website which enables Bestway to register on the retailer’s behalf, as soon as the UKID portal opens.
The codes will be required to purchase new Track and Trace compliant tobacco products from wholesalers from 20 May 2019. However, there is a one year sell through for non-compliant stock. This will be available from Bestway while stocks last, after 20 May.
Kenton Burchell, Trading Director at Bestway Wholesale, said: “The new Track and Trace legislation will have a positive impact if it prevents illicit trade and improves public health, however the short timescales the industry and government departments have been working to has put a lot of pressure on the industry.
“We’re playing our part in helping all retailers prepare for the legislation which comes into effect on 20th May. All customers need to do is visit the track and trace page on our website, where they can verify the details we hold for them and give us permission to apply for the codes on their behalf.”
Retailers should be aware that it is their legal responsibility to ensure the details registered are correct and that their purchases will be monitored by HMRC.
The process to apply for codes opens on 30 April 2019. Anyone who does not have the relevant codes from 20 May 2019 will not be able to buy or sell Track and Trace tobacco.
