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Filtered by Free — 134 articles

Nicola Sudan

7 June 2026

2 min read

LIQUI MOLY Deploys Non-Copyable QR Codes to Combat Fake Lubricants

German lubricant manufacturer LIQUI MOLY has introduced a new anticounterfeiting system based on non-copyable QR codes. The system, developed by authentic.network, is being rolled out across LIQUI MOLY's global product portfolio and is designed to allow distributors, workshops and consumers to verify the authenticity of engine oils using a standard smartphone.

Consumer & Industrial Products Covert & Forensic Security Free Free

Aftab Baloch

18 May 2026

5 min read

Cargo Tracking System: Pakistan’s Digital Offensive Against Smuggling and Tax Evasion

Pakistan is undertaking one of the most significant trade-monitoring reforms in its history with the introduction of a nationwide cargo tracking system (CTS). The initiative is designed to replace the country’s paper-based transport documentation with a fully digital platform capable of monitoring the movement of goods from origin to destination in near real time.

Countries Enforcement & Surveillance Free Free

Chander S Jeena

26 April 2026

3 min read

NovaVera Crystallography: Closing the Gap in Taggant Performance

At the recent High Security Printing™ EMEA conference, in Rabat, Morocco, the technology and innovation session highlighted notable advances in the field of authentication. These included a new class of inorganic taggants for digital and conventional printing processes, presented by Josh Collins of NovaVera.

Advanced Materials Covert & Forensic Security Free Free

Nicola Sudan

13 April 2026

2 min read

How Wine Authentication Is Moving Beyond Origin Labels

The seizure of 2.5 million litres of counterfeit origin-labelled wine in Italy in March 2026 is a stark reminder that even the most established appellation systems are no longer immune to fraud. With an estimated market value of €4 million, the case uncovered by Italy’s financial police highlights a growing vulnerability in premium wine markets.

Brand Protection Free Free

Nicola Sudan

6 April 2026

2 min read

South Korea Unveils State-Backed K-Brand Authentication Mark

South Korea is set to introduce a government-backed K-brand certification mark aimed at tackling the global spread of counterfeit Korean goods – estimated at $9.7 billion annually – signalling a shift towards a more coordinated, state-led approach to brand protection.

Authentication Countries Free Free

Nicola Sudan

25 March 2026

3 min read

From Stamps to Systems: Why ITSA Has a New Name

The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has adopted a new name that reflects a major shift in the technologies and systems used to control regulated products. The organisation will now be known as the International Tax Stamp, Authentication and Traceability Association, while retaining the well-established ITSA acronym by which it is widely recognised in the industry.

Associations Free Free

Nicola Sudan

4 March 2026

1 min read

ITSA Takes Aim at Fake Tax Stamps Sold Online

In today’s hyper-connected global marketplace, fake tax stamps and security markings are made accessible by criminals on non-law-abiding internet platforms, particularly in regions where enforcement is weak and cross-border e-commerce flourishes.

Free Free

Nicola Sudan

24 Feb. 2026

3 min read

The Limited Legal Weight of Brand Protection Labels

A recent decision of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court in Taiwan demonstrates that the absence of an anticounterfeiting label on a product may not, on its own, prove that the seller of the product ‘knew’ it was fake.

Brand Protection Free Strategies Free

Chander S Jeena

2 Feb. 2026

5 min read

India, Cigarettes and Alcohol: One Country, Two Excise Philosophies

India’s recent excise tax overhaul marks a renewed tightening of tobacco excise control. Duty structures on cigarettes have been revised, compliance obligations at manufacturing sites strengthened, and enforcement powers sharpened. But nowhere in this new framework is there a requirement to apply tax stamps to individual cigarette packs. This strategy contrasts starkly with the country’s state-level alcohol control systems, which rely heavily on physical tax stamps.

Countries Events Free Free

Nicola Sudan

22 Dec. 2025

5 min read

2025 – A Year in Review

2025 was the year when Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ merged with Authentication & Brand News™ to form what is now Tax Stamp & Authentication News™ (TSAN). This merge reflects the reality of today’s markets and technologies, where government revenue recovery systems are embracing more products and functions, and brand protection programmes are seeking solutions that also allow them to comply with government regulations.

Editorials Free Free

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Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2025

2 min read

New Guyana Alcohol Stamps Reflect Global Shift

On 1 November, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) launched three new tax stamps on alcoholic beverages, together with an automated monitoring system for strengthened product traceability. The system was developed in partnership with GRA’s existing stamp provider Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN), which also supplies Guyana’s tobacco stamps.

Countries Free Tax Stamps Free

Nicola Sudan

25 Nov. 2025

2 min read

Weaving Barcodes into the Fabric of Clothing

A startup from the University of Michigan in the US, Fibarcode, is developing a technology to weave barcodes into fabrics that could help make clothing and other textiles more recyclable and harder to counterfeit.

Consumer & Industrial Products Free Free

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

3 min read

Welcome to TSAN!

Welcome to your first issue of Tax Stamp & Authentication News™ (TSAN). This 12-page monthly newsletter merges Reconnaissance’s previous newsletters Authentication & Brand News™ and Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ into a single publication that reflects the convergence of markets, technologies, and policies related to revenue mobilisation, brand protection and product traceability.

Editorials Free Free

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

3 min read

Through the Optical Lens: Securing Medicines Against Counterfeits

The pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, adopting new technologies and optimising resources to meet authentication and anticounterfeiting challenges.

Free Technology & Systems Free

Nicola Sudan

29 Sept. 2025

2 min read

A New Chapter Begins for TSTN

In 2019, we decided to expand the scope of Tax Stamp News™ (as it was called back then) into the traceability realm, in order to reflect the fact that national tax stamp programmes were becoming increasingly integrated into production monitoring and track and trace systems.

Free Free

Sven Bergmann

29 Sept. 2025

9 min read

The Overlooked Threat: Illicit Tobacco as a Global Public Policy Challenge

Illicit trade in tobacco and vapor products has become a critical challenge facing policymakers, regulators, revenue authorities, and law enforcement. Once seen as a secondary issue compared to narcotics or counterfeit pharmaceuticals, illicit tobacco is now a clear and present threat for many countries across the globe.

Countries Excise Products Free Free

Nicola Sudan

2 Sept. 2025

2 min read

SICPA Obtains ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation to Enhance Enforcement Capability of Revenue Authorities

Since 2005, SICPA has been a trailblazer in the tax stamp industry, consistently introducing innovations that have reshaped the market. These include the integration of unique identifiers into tax stamps, the use of cameras to activate stamps on production lines, and the application of security inks for direct marking.

Authentication Companies Free Free

Chander S Jeena

31 Aug. 2025

4 min read

Why the UK Still Struggles with Counterfeit Medicines

The UK is home to world-class science, cutting-edge authentication technologies and a regulatory tradition that commands global respect. Yet, counterfeit medicines continue to infiltrate the country’s supply chains. Recent incidents reveal that even a country celebrated as a hub of anticounterfeiting innovation is struggling to keep ahead of the criminals.

Editorials Free Free

Chander S Jeena

31 Aug. 2025

6 min read

On the Record with Kevin McKenna, CEO of Authentix

Almost one year ago, Authentix completed the acquisition of the authentication operations of the Canadian group Meta Materials, specifically involving Nanotech Security Corp, for circa $10 million.

Free Interviews Free

Nicola Sudan

21 July 2025

9 min read

Excise Tax Systems – Breaking Down the Silos

During the April 2025 Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™, Linstrom Marangu, Health Tax Specialist from the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), chaired a panel discussion on the need to integrate excise systems into an overarching tax administration platform.

Free Strategies Free

Latest News

LIQUI MOLY Deploys Non-Copyable QR Codes to Combat Fake Lubricants

Cargo Tracking System: Pakistan’s Digital Offensive Against Smuggling and Tax Evasion

NovaVera Crystallography: Closing the Gap in Taggant Performance

How Wine Authentication Is Moving Beyond Origin Labels

South Korea Unveils State-Backed K-Brand Authentication Mark

From Stamps to Systems: Why ITSA Has a New Name

ITSA Takes Aim at Fake Tax Stamps Sold Online

The Limited Legal Weight of Brand Protection Labels

India, Cigarettes and Alcohol: One Country, Two Excise Philosophies

2025 – A Year in Review

New Guyana Alcohol Stamps Reflect Global Shift

Weaving Barcodes into the Fabric of Clothing

Welcome to TSAN!

Through the Optical Lens: Securing Medicines Against Counterfeits

A New Chapter Begins for TSTN

The Overlooked Threat: Illicit Tobacco as a Global Public Policy Challenge

SICPA Obtains ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation to Enhance Enforcement Capability of Revenue Authorities

Why the UK Still Struggles with Counterfeit Medicines

On the Record with Kevin McKenna, CEO of Authentix

Excise Tax Systems – Breaking Down the Silos

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