Cigarettes Tax Stamp Programme
Programme Details
Product Type: Cigarettes
Product Category: Tobacco
Excise Authority:
Kenya Revenue Authority
Programme Status:
Active
Tax Stamp Program in Place:
Yes
Start Year: 2,013
Container Size:
20 sticks/pack
Annual Stamp Volume:
316M
Current Stamp Specification
Period:
2013 -
Present
Active
Contractors
Type & Physical Properties
Type: Tax stamp
Substrate: Paper label
Adhesion: Wet glue-applied
Printing Methods: Digital, Flexography, Offset
Security Features
Overt: Colour-shifting ink, Guilloche design
Semi-Covert: Microtext, Polarisation, UV ink
Semi-Covert Auth: Magnifying lens, Polarising filter, UV light
Coding and Functionality
Variable Data Type: Human-readable, Machine-readable
Unique Per Stamp: Yes
Machine-Readable Formats: 2D barcode
Main Functions: Authentication, Automated production monitoring, Consumer verification, Fiscal control, Tracing back to source, Tracking through supply chain
Aggregation Supported: Yes
Description: As well as a track and trace functionality, the EGMS system employs automated production monitoring, which involves the following steps:
- Individual product counting and detection of the product SKU through a barcode scanner reading the product EAN code
- Individual scanning and authentication of the stamp or mark by an inline camera
- Association of the stamp/mark to the product SKU and transmission to the central database.
The system is able to identify production inconsistencies such as lines which continue running without any activation being reported and, if necessary, generate alerts to permit follow-up actions.
Stamp Images (Cigarettes) - Click on an image to enlarge.
Notes:
Other, covert/forensic, features specified in the 2025 tender include: - Anti-Stokes feature – uses infrared radiation to create an emission within the visible spectrum - A forensic feature unique to Kenya's programme.