Use of Tobacco Tax Stamps to Prevent and Reduce Illicit Tobacco Trade — United States, 2014

This report found that although some states have adopted one or two stamping policies, states do not take a comprehensive approach to tobacco tax stamping, which could be an important tool in reducing illicit trade and revenue loss in the U.S. Applying tax stamps to all tobacco products, and for those states with reservations within their borders, working with tribes to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements including the use of stamps on tobacco products sold on reservation land, could have an important impact on reducing illicit trade. Additionally, introducing high-tech tax stamps with new technologies including encryption, holograms and scan able barcodes in all states could further reduce counterfeiting and improve supply chain monitoring and enforcement. Implementing a comprehensive tobacco stamp policy could further reduce smoking and associated healthcare costs as well as recoup lost revenues from illicit trade.

Read the paper here via CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.