National —
On November 15, 2024, Deputy Finance Minister Paophum Rojanasakul announced the launch of the “QR Cigarette” system, a Track & Trace technology to monitor tobacco products from production to purchase.
This innovation enhances tax collection efficiency, promotes transparency, and ensures compliance with international standards by creating a comprehensive Big Data system for policy development.
Consumers can use smartphones to scan unique QR codes on cigarette excise stamps, accessing details such as the brand, manufacturer, tax payment date, shipment location, and price.
Discrepancies between the displayed information and the product can indicate contraband or counterfeit goods. Such illicit products may not meet quality standards and could pose serious health risks due to unregulated ingredients, says the Thai government.
The system allows the public to report suspicious items directly to the Excise Department through a built-in whistleblowing feature.
This measure aligns with the department’s strategy to combat illegal products, safeguard public health, and foster governance and sustainability in Thailand’s economy.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
