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1,100 articles online

All Advanced Materials Associations Authentication Brand Protection Case Studies Companies Consumer & Industrial Products Countries Covert & Forensic Security Document Protection Editorials Enforcement & Surveillance Events Excise Products Free Government Illicit Trade Interviews News Overt Security Regulations Reports & Studies Standards Strategies Sustainability Tax & Revenue Tax Stamps Technology & Systems Tenders Track and Trace

Chander S Jeena

17 March 2025

3 min read

Authentication in Your Pocket

As Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, puts it, 'Your smartphone is now your passport, your bank, and your key to the digital world', There is no doubt about its increasing usage in our lives. In the authentication industry, smartphones are also important in facilitating the digital authentication of banknotes, identity and tax stamps. The authentication industry integrates digital security features that link high-security printing with the digital world. This article explores several recent innovations.

Authentication

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2025

3 min read

Final Programme Released for Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum

Further to our announcement last month of the speakers signed up for this year’s Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™, from 7-9 April in Cape Town, South Africa, the programme has now been finalised.

Events Free Free

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2025

2 min read

Metrc Launches Cannabis QR Code Pilot in Canada

Two cannabis businesses in the Canadian province of Alberta – Token Naturals and Plantlife Cannabis – together with US technology company Metrc, are launching a pilot project in Alberta to improve the transparency and safety of cannabis products.

Excise Products Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2025

3 min read

News in Brief

Oman has announced changes to the implementation timeframe and scope for extending its tax stamp and digital traceability programme to excisable drinks.

Tax Stamps

Peter Thomas

5 March 2025

3 min read

Stamping Out Fraud and Tax Evasion

Tax stamps have been around since the late 17th century and were originally embossed or impressed on products or documents. Today, they have evolved from simple adhesive labels into sophisticated tools that play a crucial role in revenue protection and tax compliance.

Tax & Revenue

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2025

3 min read

US Health Group Calls for Tobacco Traceability

The American Lung Association (ALA) has called for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to propose and finalise regulations to implement track and trace technology on all tobacco products to prevent illicit trade, including counterfeiting and smuggling activities.

Excise Products Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2025

2 min read

The Digital/Physical Debate in the Face of Threats from AI and Quantum Computing

Across the tax stamp and traceability sector, several concurrent technologies are forcing change: digitisation, the impact of AI, and the prospect of quantum computing. There is no doubt that, individually, these technologies offer convenience and efficiency, but should we be concerned about the interplay between them and whether they could lead to a new set of threats?

Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2025

2 min read

FCTC Celebrates 20 Years – But Illicit Trade Still a Big Challenge

On 27 February 2025, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) celebrated the 20th anniversary of its entry into force.

Regulations

Ian Lancaster

5 March 2025

6 min read

The Changing Face of the Tax Stamp Field

The authors of the third edition of Tax Stamps & Traceability: A Market Analysis and Technical Update (TSR 3), published by Reconnaissance International in 2020, estimated that there were then ‘about 80 prime contractors for tax stamp programmes around the world’, of which 50 were commercial organisations and 30 state-owned enterprises. Those state-owned entities mainly supplied their own country’s tax stamp requirements, but many were also operating commercially on the open market, albeit primarily supplying regional neighbours.

Companies

Francis Tuffy

4 March 2025

4 min read

Bridging the Skills Gaps in Security Printing

The global security print landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, and, in its wake, there are two extremes of skills shortage.

Companies

Francis Tuffy

4 March 2025

3 min read

Quality and Colour: The Unsung Guardians of Secure Documents

If you only read media reports, it would be easy to assume that the most significant advances in identity document security stem from digital innovation, with biometric verification, blockchain-based identity management, and digital certificates dominating discussions.

Technology & Systems

Chander S Jeena

25 Feb. 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

Crane NXT has secured its first micro- optics contract through the OpSec Security channel with a luxury perfume brand.

Authentication

Chander S Jeena

25 Feb. 2025

5 min read

How Does the World’s Most Valuable Spirit Handle Counterfeiting?

If you have ever lived in or visited China, you will undoubtedly be familiar with the iconic Moutai brand. However, outside of China, it remains largely unknown. Still, in 2024, Moutai’s brand value rose to $50.1 billion, making it the world’s most valuable spirit for the ninth consecutive year, according to Brand Finance.

Consumer & Industrial Products

Ian Lancaster

25 Feb. 2025

5 min read

Authentication or Otherwise? Commemorative Column by Ian Lancaster

Anti-Counterfeiting News, Product Protection News, Brand Protection News… these were some of the titles that we dreamed up when we decided to launch Reconnaissance’s second newsletter, as our first, Holography News®, was increasingly reporting the security uses of holograms.

Editorials

Chander S Jeena

25 Feb. 2025

2 min read

Anticounterfeiting Inspired by Duck Feathers

Researchers in China have developed a non-petroleum film for packaging applications that can extend the shelf life of foods, show when spoilage has occurred, and has fluorescent properties that could be used as an anticounterfeit feature.

Consumer & Industrial Products

Chander S Jeena

25 Feb. 2025

2 min read

Tax Stamp Association Selected as Liaison Organisation to EU Standards Body

The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has been approved as a liaison organisation to the CEN- CENELEC technical committee responsible for developing EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) standards.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

25 Feb. 2025

2 min read

US Patent Awarded on Built-In Authentication for Vinyl

With sales of vinyl records rocketing in recent years, it was inevitable that counterfeiters would enter the market to try to make a fast buck – and a recently published US patent describes one way to fight back, reports SecuringIndustry.com

Companies

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2025

2 min read

Applied DNA Exits Authentication Business

After years of inconsistent demand, Applied DNA Sciences (ADNAS) has decided to discontinue its DNA tagging and security services business. This decision is part of a broader restructuring effort that includes a 20% reduction in workforce, mainly in the DNA tagging segment.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2025

6 min read

Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum Heads to Cape Town

The programme for this year’s Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ (from 7-9 April in Cape Town, South Africa) has been released, with some important themes on the agenda. This article describes some of these themes, which will be presented as workshops, standalone papers or panel discussions.

Events

Chander S Jeena

24 Feb. 2025

2 min read

Luminescence to Protect Deposit Return Revenue in Türkiye

In a LinkedIn post, Luminescence Sun Chemical Security (LSCS) has announced it is a major contributor to protecting the revenue of Türkiye’s deposit return scheme (DRS) on single-use beverage containers, through its security solutions and the logistical support of Sun Chemical Türkiye.

Companies

Latest News

Authentication in Your Pocket

Final Programme Released for Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum

Metrc Launches Cannabis QR Code Pilot in Canada

News in Brief

Stamping Out Fraud and Tax Evasion

US Health Group Calls for Tobacco Traceability

The Digital/Physical Debate in the Face of Threats from AI and Quantum Computing

FCTC Celebrates 20 Years – But Illicit Trade Still a Big Challenge

The Changing Face of the Tax Stamp Field

Bridging the Skills Gaps in Security Printing

Quality and Colour: The Unsung Guardians of Secure Documents

News in Brief

How Does the World’s Most Valuable Spirit Handle Counterfeiting?

Authentication or Otherwise? Commemorative Column by Ian Lancaster

Anticounterfeiting Inspired by Duck Feathers

Tax Stamp Association Selected as Liaison Organisation to EU Standards Body

US Patent Awarded on Built-In Authentication for Vinyl

Applied DNA Exits Authentication Business

Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum Heads to Cape Town

Luminescence to Protect Deposit Return Revenue in Türkiye

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