Penalties for not implementing the new digital tax stamp scheme on tobacco products include fines of Dh20,000 to more than Dh50,000, the Federal Tax Authority said on Saturday.

A ban on the import of any type of cigarettes into the UAE not bearing the digital tax stamps came into effect on May 1. The sale, importation or production of tobacco products not bearing the digital tax marks will be prohibited in the UAE as of August.

The penalties have been set “in an effort to protect consumers, prevent contraband, low-quality products from entering local markets, and halt sales of smuggled goods in the UAE,” the FTA said in a statement.