ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday made it mandatory for all manufacturers to affix tax stamps or Unique Identification Marking (UIM) on all products effective from July 1, 2021.

The order was notified through late-night Sales Tax General Orders (STGO). After awarding the licence for Track and Trace System to the successful bidder, the FBR has also issued four STGOs for tobacco, sugar, cement and fertiliser under the provisions of Section 40C(2) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 read with Rule 150ZF of the Sales Tax Rules, 2006.

These laws mandate the FBR to notify the date for the implementation of electronic monitoring of productions and sales of goods in the manner prescribed in law on all manufacturing sites (unless otherwise provided) for all the notified sectors.

No product will be allowed to leave the production site, factory premises, manufacturing plant or import station without affixation of tax stamps or UIMs with effect from July 1, 2021, the FBR said.

The tax stamps or UIMs could be obtained from FBR’s licensee M/s AJCL/MITAS/Authentix Consortium.

The FBR further directed all manufacturers of specified products to make necessary arrangements for import of applicators and other equipment required for successful installation and implementation of the Track and Trace System at their production facilities.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2021