Electronic Cigarettes: Excise Duties
The question
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral response of the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury during the debate on Draft Vaping Duty Stamps (Requirements, Reviews and Appeals) Regulations 2026, on 27 April 2026, Official Report, column 6, for what reasons SICPA is not listed as a supplier in the HMRC Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme contract published on 10 February 2026.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) awarded the contract for the Vaping Duty Stamps (VDS) Scheme following a competitive procurement process conducted in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and wider government procurement rules.
As a result of this process, the contract was awarded to Cartor Security Printers as the lead bidder of a consortium, which also included SICPA. SICPA is accordingly named in the contract as a key subcontractor rather than as the supplier.
All bids were subject to a robust evaluation and assurance process to ensure compliance with these rules and to secure value for money for taxpayers.
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