English Market Selection (EMS) |
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English Market Selection, EMS, is the traditional guarantee of quality for Habanos (Havanas) which have been selected for sale in the United Kingdom)
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The EMS stamp's colour changed annually for three reasons. First as an additional safety measure against counterfeiters, second. to help you identify the age of the box, and thirdly as an aid against the black market If you see a box of Havanas on sale in the UK WITHOUT an ems sticker, then beware, they are fakes or black/grey market |
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What is EMS? |
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English Market Selection starts in Cuba. The cigar factories send their export production to Habanos SA who do a check on every batch they receive. Those batches that do not meet the EMS standards are not sent to the UK. On arrival into the United Kingdom, every box of cigars are opened by the sole importers, Hunters & Frankau, and inspected. Those that do not come up to the EMS standard, are rejected and sent back to Cuba |