Security feature
Article 3
1. Member States shall require security features to be composed of no less than five types of authentication elements, of which at least: (a) one is overt; (b) one is semi-covert; (c) one is covert. 2. Member States shall require at least one of the authentication elements, referred to in paragraph 1, to be provided by an independent third-party provider meeting the requirements laid down in Article 8. 3. Each Member State shall communicate to manufacturers and importers of tobacco products the combination or combinations of authentication elements that are to be used in security features applied to unit packets of tobacco products placed on its market. The authentication elements referred to in the first subparagraph may include any of the overt, semi-covert and covert types of authentication elements set out in the Annex. 4. The communication referred to in paragraph 3 shall take place by 20 September 2018 at the latest. Any subsequent changes to the combination or combinations of authentication elements shall be communicated by Member States to manufacturers and importers of tobacco products at least 6 months prior to the date when the changes are intended to take effect.