JTI is calling on the Government to introduce a tobacco register for retailers to tackle the £2.4bn lost each year to the illicit trade.

The manufacturer said the register should be free to join and should be run by HMRC.

Peers and MPs heard the proposal at a ‘Take a stand against illegal tobacco’ event in Parliament earlier this month, hosted by JTI, DUP MP Ian Paisley, Labour MP Stephen Hepburn and Conservative MP David Morris.

Paisley said: “£2.4bn will change our constituencies and it’s being lost because the authorities have turned a blind eye to the illicit trade.

“The tobacco industry has been so demonised over the years that it is almost impossible to have a sensible debate about the impact of this crime. Criminals are using this to their advantage.”

“If we don’t fight illicit trading at this level, we might as well give up at every other level. I encourage the Government to listen and recognise they have a job to do.”

Nicky Small, head of taxation & anti-illicit trade at JTI, told Retail Express: “We see registration as a simple and effective tool. The tobacco control lobby will call for licensing but we feel this penalises legitimate businesses.”

ACS chief executive James Lowman agreed that licensing would burden retailers.

“The Government should focus on effective measures to tackle the illicit trade, which must include a local approach in addition to seizures at our borders,” he said.