{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2018-576/annex",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2018-576/annex.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2018/576",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/576 of 15 December 2017 on technical standards for security features applied to tobacco products (notified under document C(2017) 8435) (Text with EEA relevance)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2018-576",
  "path": "annex",
  "kind": "annex",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "TYPES OF AUTHENTICATION ELEMENTS",
  "text": "Overt\nSemi-covert\nCovert\nGuilloche\nOrnamental pattern of two or more interlaced bands that are printed in multiple non-standard colours.\nLaser images\nImage becomes visible to the human eye only when emblazed with a light of a specific wavelength, such as a laser pointer.\nDNA taggants\nForensic marker which uses combinatorical mathematical principles to define nucleotide sequences.\nRainbow printing\nCombination of two or more colours and subtly merging of colours into each other, which leads to the formation of intervening tints (taking on rainbow colours).\nPolarised image\nImage becomes visible to the human eye only when a specific polarising filter is placed over it.\nMolecular taggants\nChemical marker which, often formulated in the base materials of the object tagged to, allows for the detection of dilution and mix ratios in materials. Uniquely encoded and incorporated at trace levels.\nLatent image\nA line pattern printed by intaglio that reveals a different image when tilting the object on which it is printed. May be combined with colour-changing ink.\nUV dull paper\nSpecial paper that will not reflect ultraviolet light. Suitable for printing with ultraviolet (UV) inks that will show up under special UV lamps.\nSecurity fibres (covert)\nInvisible fluorescent fibres that are randomly placed on suitable paper. Cannot be scanned or photocopied and will only become visible under special UV lamps.\nColour-changing ink\nReveals changing colours when viewed under different angles.\nSecurity fibres (semi-covert)\nVisible fluorescent fibres fully or partially embedded in a random pattern that is non-reproducible. May come in a range of colours and shapes. Change their colour under UV light.\nMagnetic elements\nPattern of magnetic elements that generate a signal or a series of signals, which can be detected remotely by special identification devices.\nTactile patterns\nIntaglio printing producing a raised tactile relief, which can be authenticated under oblique light. May be combined with latent image.\nMicroprint\nPrint using extremely small text that requires magnification to become readable with the naked eye.\nAnti-Stokes inks\nInks with Anti-Stokes properties that can be examined using a video spectral comparator (VSC instruments).\nHologram\nDisplay of a fully three-dimensional photographic recording of a light field with angle of observation.\nThermochromic ink\nHeat reactive ink that is sensitive to temperature change. Ink will change colour or disappear when exposed to temperature changes.\nReactive inks (covert)\nColourless or transparent inks that become visible upon reaction with a specific solvent that is applied by means of purpose built tools under laboratory conditions.\nReactive inks (semi-covert)\nColourless or transparent inks that become visible upon reaction with a specific solvent that is applied by means of a special pen or marker.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2018/576/annex",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:13:08.518397+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}