UAE to ban waterpipe tobacco, e-cigs without digital tax stamp

UAE to ban waterpipe tobacco, e-cigs without digital tax stamp

New UAE tax rule comes into effect from March. Importing any type of waterpipe tobacco (known in Arabic as 'Mu'assel') or electrically heated cigarette plugs that are not marked with 'Digital Tax Stamps' will be prohibited across the UAE as of March 1, 2020, asserted the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) on Tuesday.. The ban is in keeping with the timeline set for launching phase two of the ' Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products Scheme ', the FTA explained, adding that it serves to protect consumers from commercial fraud and low-quality products.. The Authority called on producers, importers, and distributors of these products to abide by the system, as directed in Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2018 on Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products.. The Stamps allow for tracking the designated products from the manufacturing facility and until they reach the end consumer, ensuring they satisfy the set standards and criteria, and have met their Excise Tax obligations.. In a press statement issued today, the Authority stressed the importance of implementing FTA Decision No. 02 of 2019 on Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products, which went into effect on November 1, 2019.. The Decision saw the authority begin providing Digital Tax Stamps in