TraceTobacco: A Framework and Methodological Approach for Designing Interoperable Tobacco Track and Trace System

Illicit tobacco is a worldwide issue that not only causes severe losses in the government revenue by tax evasion, but also has a negative impact on public health. Track and trace systems that allow states to monitor the movement of tobacco products from the starting point of production to the endpoints of sale will be key to global efforts to prevent the illicit trade in tobacco. This research proposes a framework and methodological approach for designing interoperable tobacco track and trace system capable of securing the supply chain and facilitating in investigating the illicit trade of tobacco products. The development of the framework is carried out by reviewing published traceability framework in the food industry and pharmaceutical industry sectors, and then adjusting it to the requirements of the WHO FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and GS1 System Standards. The results are the TraceTobacco Framework which consists of seven main principle elements and TraceTobacco Methodology which outlines five important steps, both play an important role in designing an interoperable tobacco track and trace system. An interoperable tobacco track and trace system enables effective and efficient data and information exchange for securing supply chains and preventing illicit trade in tobacco products, which in turn has an impact on reducing the amount of illicit tobacco and improving public health, protecting the government revenues, and protecting legitimate economic operators.