Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151Show full title

ANNEX III U.K. Harmonised marking specifications for tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products

1. Unit packet as defined in point 30 of Article 2 of Directive 2014/40/EU (‘unit packet’) and outside packaging as defined in point 29 of Article 2 of Directive 2014/40/EU (‘outside packaging’) for tobacco products with filters with the surface area of 10 cm² or more; and packaging for filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products with the surface area of 10 cm² or more shall bear the following printed marking: U.K.

Note

:

the black line bordering the marking is not part thereof. Its only purpose is to show the thin white line bordering the marking against the white page.

By way of derogation from the first sentence of this point, the marking of unit packet and outside packaging for tobacco products with filters and packaging for filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products placed on the market before 4 July 2022 may be affixed by means of stickers.

2. The marking shall comply with the requirements laid down in this point. U.K.

(a)

Position of the marking

(i)

Tobacco products with filters

The marking shall be placed horizontally on the external back surface of the unit packet and on the outside packaging.

Where the marking of the minimum size cannot fit horizontally on the external back surface of the unit packet, it may be rotated 90° and placed vertically on the back surface or on any of the external lateral surfaces of the unit packet. In all cases, it shall be clearly visible.

The boxes of the marking shall not be separated.

The marking shall not obstruct in any way the visibility of the health warnings required by Directive 2014/40/EU.

The marking shall not be totally or partially covered by other labels or stamps.

When opening the unit packet and of the outside packaging in accordance with any instructions, the marking should not be torn or made illegible.

(ii)

Filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products

The marking shall be placed horizontally on the external front or top surface, whichever is more clearly visible, of the packaging.

Where the marking of the minimum size cannot fit in its entirety on the external front or top surface of the packaging, it may be placed horizontally partly on two sides of the packaging, i.e. top and front or front and side, whichever is more clearly visible.

Where it is not possible to place the marking horizontally due to the shape or size of the packaging, it may be rotated 90° and placed vertically.

The boxes of the marking shall not be separated.

When opening of the packaging in accordance with any instructions, the marking should not be torn or made illegible.

(b)

Size of the marking

The marking shall be composed of two equal-sized red and blue boxes, which are placed next to each other, and a rectangular black box containing the information text ‘PLASTIC IN FILTER’ placed below the two equal-sized boxes. The ratio between the height and length of the marking shall be 1:2.

(i)

Tobacco products with filters

Where the area of the external back surface of the unit packet is less than 65 cm², the minimum size of the marking shall be 1,4 cm by 2,8 cm (3,92 cm²). In all other cases, the marking shall cover at least 6 % of the surface area on which it is placed. The maximum required size of the marking shall be 3 cm by 6 cm (18 cm²).

(ii)

For filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products

Where the area of the external front or top surface of the packaging on which the marking is placed is less than 65 cm², the minimum size of the marking shall be 1,4 cm by 2,8 cm (3,92 cm²). In all other cases, the marking shall cover at least 6 % of the surface area on which it is placed. The maximum required size of the marking shall be 3 cm by 6 cm (18 cm²).

(c)

Design of the marking

The design of the marking shall be reproduced without adding any effects, adjusting the colours, retouching or extending the background. The marking shall be reproduced at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch when printed in actual size. The marking shall be bordered by a thin white line.

The information text ‘PLASTIC IN FILTER’ shall be in upper case and in Helvetica Bold font. The font size shall be a minimum of 5 pt and a maximum of 14 pt.

Where the information text is translated into another or several official languages of the Member States, the translated information text shall be placed either close below the marking, or inside the rectangular black box below the first language, and shall be in both cases clearly visible. In exceptional cases due to spatial constraints on the external front or top surface of the packaging, the information text translated into another or several official languages of the Member States may be placed elsewhere on the packaging as close as possible to the marking and where it is clearly visible. The translated information text shall be in upper case and in Helvetica Bold font. The font size shall be a minimum of 5 pt and a maximum of 14 pt. Where the information text in additional languages is placed in the rectangular black box, derogations from the maximum required size of the marking are possible.

The colours having the following colour codes shall be used:

• White: C = 0 / M = 0 / Y = 0 / K = 0

• Black: C = 0 / M = 0 / Y = 0 / K = 100

• Red: C = 0 / M = 90 / Y = 60 / K = 0

• Blue: C = 60 / M = 0 / Y = 0 / K = 0.