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Chander S Jeena

29 June 2025

2 min read

Combating Book Piracy with PUF Labels and Holograms

Book piracy and academic fraud present significant threats to education worldwide. Counterfeit textbooks flood the market, while fake diplomas erode trust in qualifications. As publishing increasingly transitions to digital platforms globally, pirates are discovering new methods to exploit vulnerabilities. In response, governments, publishers, and regulatory bodies are adopting innovative technologies. This article examines recent initiatives.

Brand Protection

Chander S Jeena

22 June 2025

4 min read

StockX Brand Report Highlights Trends in Verification and Anticounterfeiting

In time for World Anticounterfeiting Day, the US-based resale platform StockX has released its second annual Brand Protection & Customer Trust Report, showcasing the company's significant advancements in verification, fraud prevention, and anti-counterfeiting measures throughout 2024.

Free Free

Chander S Jeena

22 June 2025

3 min read

Even Monsters Aren't Safe from Copycats

Labubu fever is everywhere, but with that popularity comes an influx of fakes. The quirky monster doll is making headlines again - this time for all the wrong reasons. Labubu, the wide-eyed creature popularised by the Chinese toy brand Pop Mart, is now at the centre of a growing counterfeit crisis.

Consumer & Industrial Products

Chander S Jeena

22 June 2025

2 min read

Royal Mint Launches World's Most Visually Secure Bullion Bar

The Royal Mint has unveiled a groundbreaking addition to its bullion portfolio with the launch of the new secure Britannia bullion bar. For the first time, innovative security features - previously exclusive to its world-renowned coins - have been rolled out into its gold bar range.

Authentication

Nicola Sudan

8 June 2025

6 min read

South Africa Illicit Trade Report Highlights Improvements… but Mainly Weaknesses

The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) is a non- governmental organisation consisting of corporations and select trade associations within a range of sectors, including tobacco, alcohol, agri-foods, petroleum, and pharmaceuticals. It has released a report titled ‘South Africa’s Fight Against Illicit Trade – A Strategic Review’. The report reveals that while the country has improved its cross-border enforcement and customs capacity, as well as controls over the informal economy, it has performed significantly less well in other areas with regard to anti-illicit trade efforts.

Illicit Trade

Chander S Jeena

29 May 2025

4 min read

Smart Labels: Is Sensing Replacing Scanning?

In our January edition of Authentication & Brand News™, we asked: ‘could 2025 be the year for smart and sustainable IoT labels?’ The question was prompted by the unveiling of new smart label solutions from Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Linxens. The solutions are emblematic of a larger shift in logistics and authentication: moving from traditional scan-based systems to sensing-based networks.

Free Free

Chander S Jeena

29 May 2025

5 min read

News In Brief

On the occasion of the recent International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) Annual Conference in San Diego, USA, the IACC launched its Marketplace Advisory Council (MAC) – a forum for cross-industry collaboration in the fight against fakes.

Authentication

Chander S Jeena

29 May 2025

3 min read

Mergers at One End, Capacity Building at the Other

Whilst the authentication industry is witnessing consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, it is also seeing a strong wave of investment in capacity-building and innovation. This article looks at some of the latest investments within the RFID, holography, and security printing sectors.

Strategies

Chander S Jeena

29 May 2025

3 min read

Cellulose-Based Luminescent Films Promise Advanced Brand Protection

Efforts to combat counterfeiting have traditionally relied on visual markers such as holograms, microtext, and invisible inks, but advanced replication technologies are increasingly challenging these measures.

Advanced Materials

Chander S Jeena

29 May 2025

4 min read

ODDS 2025 – Programme Highlights

Taking place in the historic and vibrant city of Warsaw, Poland (15-17 September), the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) 2025 conference continues its mission of showcasing the most advanced research, innovation, and debate in the field of document protection. With a dynamic programme ranging from cutting-edge optical features to quantum-resilient digital security, ODDS 2025 is where ideas are shared, challenged, and transformed into real-world solutions.

Events

Francisco Mandiola

29 May 2025

5 min read

Chile Health Service Claims Illicit Drugs Being Sold Via Authorised Distributors

A recent report by the Chilean Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP), the national regulatory authority for pharmaceutical products, has sparked the interest of several local news outlets, due to the report’s surprising conclusions regarding the illicit trade of pharmaceuticals in the nation.

Illicit Trade

Sven Bergmann

27 May 2025

4 min read

The UK’s Vaping Duty Stamp: A Promising Reform – If Backed by Enforcement

The UK’s decision to implement a new vaping products duty, paired with a mandatory duty stamp, marks a pivotal evolution in its regulatory posture toward nicotine-containing vape products.

Excise Products Regulations Tax Stamps

Francisco Mandiola

27 May 2025

3 min read

Are We Ready for Traceability Challenge from Trump’s Tariff War?

While it is still early days for the Trump administration, news agencies are chock-full of stories to report. Amongst the most popular have been the constant changes in US trade policy, which are not only surprising to many, but which seem to lack a clear path for allowing governments and business to modify their own policies to manage the effects of the US ones.

Strategies Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

27 May 2025

3 min read

Managing the Raw Tobacco Supply Chain: Insights from Poland

At the recent Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™, Dr Hana Ross from the World Bank Global Tax Program shared findings from a 2020 study examining Poland’s approach to regulating the raw tobacco supply chain. The study highlighted how targeted controls helped the country significantly reduce its illicit tobacco trade.

Case Studies Countries Excise Products

Nicola Sudan

27 May 2025

2 min read

Uganda Launches Stickers to Curb Non-Compliant Fuel Stations

The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the National Bureau of Standards, has introduced secure stickers with unique identifiers for displaying at fuel stations as visible proof of regulatory compliance.

Excise Products

Sven Bergmann

27 May 2025

3 min read

New York’s Legal Cannabis Market Won’t Survive Without Track and Trace

New York State is at a critical juncture. Despite legalizing adult-use cannabis more than two years ago, the state has yet to implement a meaningful seed-to-sale tracking system. As a result, the illicit market is not just thriving – it’s dominating.

Excise Products Free Track and Trace Free

Aftab Baloch

27 May 2025

5 min read

Pakistan Introduces Fuel Tracking Law... But Systemic Issues Need Addressing First

According to the Pakistani press, the country’s government has introduced an amendment to the 1934 Petroleum Act to implement real-time tracking of petroleum products, from import and production to retail sale. This move aims to reduce massive annual revenue losses estimated at PKR 300-500 billion ($1.1-$1.8 billion), due to smuggling and adulteration of petroleum products.

Countries Excise Products Regulations

Nicola Sudan

18 May 2025

7 min read

Meet Crane Authentication – One Brand, One Vision

Crane NXT recently announced the launch of a new brand identity: Crane Authentication. This unified brand consolidates the strengths of recently acquired De La Rue Authentication, the Smart Packaging assets of TruTag Technologies, and OpSec Security (purchased last year). Crane NXT now comprises two segments: Security and Authentication Technologies (which includes Crane Currency and Crane Authentication) and Crane Payment Innovations.

Companies Interviews

Francis Tuffy

18 May 2025

3 min read

Cellulose-Based Luminescent Films Promise Advanced Brand Protection and Authentication

Efforts to combat counterfeiting have traditionally relied on visual markers such as holograms, micro text, and invisible inks, but advanced replication technologies are increasingly challenging these measures.

Brand Protection

Chander S Jeena

18 May 2025

2 min read

Mohave County Approves Ballot Security Marks for 2026 Midterms

In the Authentication & Brand News™ March 2024 article 'Decoding Georgia Bills - No to QR Codes Yes to Watermark', we updated the usage of security features in ballot paper. We are now informed of developments in Mohave County, as it approved adding security features to its ballot paper for the 2026 midterm elections to restore voter trust.

Document Protection

Latest News

Combating Book Piracy with PUF Labels and Holograms

StockX Brand Report Highlights Trends in Verification and Anticounterfeiting

Even Monsters Aren't Safe from Copycats

Royal Mint Launches World's Most Visually Secure Bullion Bar

South Africa Illicit Trade Report Highlights Improvements… but Mainly Weaknesses

Smart Labels: Is Sensing Replacing Scanning?

News In Brief

Mergers at One End, Capacity Building at the Other

Cellulose-Based Luminescent Films Promise Advanced Brand Protection

ODDS 2025 – Programme Highlights

Chile Health Service Claims Illicit Drugs Being Sold Via Authorised Distributors

The UK’s Vaping Duty Stamp: A Promising Reform – If Backed by Enforcement

Are We Ready for Traceability Challenge from Trump’s Tariff War?

Managing the Raw Tobacco Supply Chain: Insights from Poland

Uganda Launches Stickers to Curb Non-Compliant Fuel Stations

New York’s Legal Cannabis Market Won’t Survive Without Track and Trace

Pakistan Introduces Fuel Tracking Law... But Systemic Issues Need Addressing First

Meet Crane Authentication – One Brand, One Vision

Cellulose-Based Luminescent Films Promise Advanced Brand Protection and Authentication

Mohave County Approves Ballot Security Marks for 2026 Midterms

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