Security feature
Article 16
1. In addition to the unique identifier referred to in Article 15, Member States shall require that all unit packets of tobacco products, which are placed on the market, carry a tamper proof security feature, composed of visible and invisible elements. The security feature shall be irremovably printed or affixed, indelible and not hidden or interrupted in any form, including through tax stamps and price marks, or other elements imposed by legislation. Member States requiring tax stamps or national identification marks used for fiscal purposes may allow that they are used for the security feature provided that the tax stamps or national identification marks fulfil all of the technical standards and functions required under this Article. 2. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, define the technical standards for the security feature and their possible rotation and adapt them to scientific, market and technical developments. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 25(2). 3. Paragraph 1 shall apply to cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco from 20 May 2019 and to tobacco products other than cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco from 20 May 2024.