France
Region: Europe
Non-Tax Programme
Overview
France does not operate a traditional tobacco tax stamp programme. Instead, tobacco products are regulated under the European Union's Tobacco Products Directive, which requires every pack to carry both a unique identifier (UID) for track and trace and a separate security feature for authentication. The two systems serve distinct purposes: the UID, issued in France by IN Groupe, enables supply chain traceability, while the security feature is designed to verify product authenticity through a combination of overt, semi-covert and covert security elements specified by the Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI).
Unlike conventional tax stamp schemes, the French system is not based on a single government-contracted supplier. While UID issuance is centrally managed through IN Groupe, tobacco manufacturers and importers are responsible for sourcing labels carrying the DGDDI-specified security elements directly from providers. This creates a clear separation between the EU track and trace infrastructure and the authentication system.
Tax Stamp Volume Analysis
Volume Period: 2019 - 2024
| Estimated Stamp Volume | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Type | 2019 | 2024 | CAGR | Volume in |
| Beer | 4,329M | 4,208M | -0.56% | Millions |
| Cider and perry | 94,820K | 81,265K | -3.04% | Thousands |
| Cigarettes | 1,861M | 1,286M | -7.13% | Millions |
| Fine-cut tobacco | 252M | 179M | -6.62% | Millions |
| Ready-to-drink products | 43,409K | 42,900K | -0.24% | Thousands |
| Spirits | 511,174K | 475,710K | -1.43% | Thousands |
| Wine | 2,913M | 2,623M | -2.07% | Millions |
| Total non-Tax Prog | 2,113M | 1,465M | -7.07% | Millions |
| Total no Prog | 7,891M | 7,431M | -1.19% | Millions |
| Total All | 10,004M | 8,896M | -2.32% | Millions |
Detailed Yearly Data
2024 (7 products)
| Product Type | Total Volume | Legal Volume | Illicit Volume | Estimated Stamps | Pack/Bottle Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer | 2,104M | - | - | 4,208M | 0.500L |
| Cider and perry | 60,948K | - | - | 81,265K | 0.750L |
| Cigarettes | 36,810M | 25,715M | 11,094M | 1,286M | 20 sticks/pack |
| Fine-cut tobacco | 7,158M | - | - | 179M | 40 sticks/pack |
| Ready-to-drink products | 21,450K | - | - | 42,900K | 0.500L |
| Spirits | 356,782K | - | - | 475,710K | 0.750L |
| Wine | 1,967M | - | - | 2,623M | 0.750L |
2019 (7 products)
| Product Type | Total Volume | Legal Volume | Illicit Volume | Estimated Stamps | Pack/Bottle Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer | 2,164M | - | - | 4,329M | 0.500L |
| Cider and perry | 71,115K | - | - | 94,820K | 0.750L |
| Cigarettes | 46,861M | 37,216M | 9,645M | 1,861M | 20 sticks/pack |
| Fine-cut tobacco | 10,082M | - | - | 252M | 40 sticks/pack |
| Ready-to-drink products | 21,704K | - | - | 43,409K | 0.500L |
| Spirits | 383,380K | - | - | 511,174K | 0.750L |
| Wine | 2,185M | - | - | 2,913M | 0.750L |
Tax Stamp Programmes
Cigarettes - Non tax related program
Start Year: 2019
Product Category: Tobacco
Container Size:
20 sticks/pack
Annual Volume:
1,286M
Stamp Specification
Contractors
Period:
2019 -
Present
Active
Various (Main)
Type & Physical Properties
Type: Non-excise-related label
Substrate: Paper label
Adhesion: Wet glue-applied
Printing Methods: Digital, Flexography, Offset
Security Features
Overt: Colour-shifting ink
Semi-Covert: Microtext, UV ink
Semi-Covert Auth: Magnifying lens, UV light
Coding and Functionality
Variable Data Type: Human-readable, Machine-readable
Unique Per Stamp: Yes
Machine-Readable Formats: 2D barcode
Main Functions: Authentication, Production traceability, Tracing back to source, Tracking through supply chain
Aggregation Supported: Yes
Description: France's tobacco track and trace system – like those of all other EU member states – is based on a unique identifier (UID) scheme, under which each pack receives a serialised code used to record its movement through the supply chain. The UID is distinct from the mandatory security feature, whose purpose is product authentication rather than traceability, meaning the two systems operate independently even though they appear on the same pack.
The UID issuer for France is IN Groupe.
Fine-cut tobacco - Non tax related program
Start Year: 2019
Product Category: Tobacco
Container Size:
40 sticks/pack
Annual Volume:
179M
Stamp Specification
Contractors
Period:
2019 -
Present
Active
Various (Main)
Type & Physical Properties
Type: Non-excise-related label
Substrate: Paper label
Adhesion: Wet glue-applied
Printing Methods: Digital, Flexography, Offset
Security Features
Overt: Colour-shifting ink
Semi-Covert: Microtext, UV ink
Semi-Covert Auth: Magnifying lens, UV light
Coding and Functionality
Variable Data Type: Human-readable, Machine-readable
Unique Per Stamp: Yes
Machine-Readable Formats: 2D barcode
Main Functions: Authentication, Production traceability, Tracing back to source, Tracking through supply chain
Aggregation Supported: Yes
Description: France's tobacco track and trace system – like those of all other EU member states – is based on a unique identifier (UID) scheme, under which each pack receives a serialised code used to record its movement through the supply chain. The UID is distinct from the mandatory security feature, whose purpose is product authentication rather than traceability, meaning the two systems operate independently even though they appear on the same pack.
The UID issuer for France is IN Groupe.
Other tobacco products - Non tax related program
Start Year: 2024
Product Category: Tobacco
Container Size:
Not specified
Annual Volume:
Not specified
Stamp Specification
Contractors
Period:
2024 -
Present
Active
Various (Main)
Type & Physical Properties
Type: Non-excise-related label
Substrate: Paper label
Adhesion: Wet glue-applied
Printing Methods: Digital, Flexography, Offset
Security Features
Overt: Colour-shifting ink
Semi-Covert: Microtext, UV ink
Semi-Covert Auth: Magnifying lens, UV light
Coding and Functionality
Variable Data Type: Human-readable, Machine-readable
Unique Per Stamp: Yes
Machine-Readable Formats: 2D barcode
Main Functions: Authentication, Production traceability, Tracing back to source, Tracking through supply chain
Aggregation Supported: Yes
Description: France's tobacco track and trace system – like those of all other EU member states – is based on a unique identifier (UID) scheme, under which each pack receives a serialised code used to record its movement through the supply chain. The UID is distinct from the mandatory security feature, whose purpose is product authentication rather than traceability, meaning the two systems operate independently even though they appear on the same pack.
The UID issuer for France is IN Groupe.