From Authentication News to Tax Stamp & Authentication News – A Continuing Journey

After three decades as a leading source of information for the authentication industry, Authentication & Brand News™ (ABN) is entering a new chapter. Starting in October 2025, ABN will merge with its sister publication, Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ (TSTN), to form a single, expanded publication: Tax Stamp & Authentication News™ (TSAN).

As we look ahead, it’s also important to reflect on how Authentication News™ (as it was originally called) has evolved over the years, adapting its editorial focus in response to changes in the industry.

This evolution began with pioneering coverage of anticounterfeiting security features and has grown to encompass a broader perspective on brand protection, digital integration... and now tax stamps.

Early years: a tech focus

When Authentication News (AN) launched in 1995, the industry was at a crossroads. Banknotes had long been protected by centuries- old security features; the application of similar technologies to branded products was also beginning. The surge in counterfeiting of consumer goods during the 1980s and 1990s created an urgent demand for new measures.