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Chander S Jeena

18 Feb. 2025

3 min read

Stronger Together: Merging Technologies for Secure Future

Marked by key acquisitions - 2024 will be remembered for significant consolidation in the authentication industry (see ABN, Nov 2024). While mergers and acquisitions are good for growth, so are technical collaboration and partnerships combining and complementing each other's expertise to create more substantial authentication features, technologies, and systems. The article views recent developments in this light.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

11 Feb. 2025

2 min read

US Postal Service Unveils Money Order with Enhanced Security

The US Postal Service (USPS) has introduced a newly redesigned money order with a red, white, and blue colour palette and enhanced security features.

Free Free

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

5 min read

Uruguay is Still Smokin’ Hot!

Two independent studies point to the fact that cigarette smokers in Uruguay still prefer illicit cigarettes.

Excise Products

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

4 min read

Stamping Out Illicit Trade: A Look Inside Excise Revenue Protection

As illicit trade becomes more advanced, how do governments protect their revenues, citizens, and natural resources?

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

2 min read

India Moves Forward with Track and Trace on Cigarettes

In India, cigarettes are expected to be among the first products to be brought under a track and trace mechanism aimed at curbing tax evasion, following amendments to the Central Goods & Services Tax (GST) Act. Pan masala (a popular chewing mixture) may also be included in the initiative.

Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

6 min read

Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum 2025 – The Programme So Far

The programme for this year’s Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum (from 7-9 April in Cape Town, South Africa) is shaping up nicely, 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

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

2 min read

Belarus’ Role in Illicit Trade Under Scrutiny

One of the features in the final issue of Tobacco Reporter, published in December 2024, described how the Belarusian tobacco industry has been shrouded in secrecy for over a decade.

Excise Products

3 Feb. 2025

3 min read

Swedish Health Agency Presents Tobacco Security Labels

While we are used to seeing informative and dynamic presentations of banknote designs and security features on central bank websites, imagine our surprise when we came across a presentation of tobacco authentication labels on the Swedish Public Health Agency site!

Tax & Revenue

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

3 min read

Predicting Trends That Will Define Stamps and Traceability in 2025

As we enter the new year, the question on our readers’ minds is: what are the significant developments that will shape the industry over the coming 12 months? We asked members of the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) to share their perspectives on what could define the year ahead, with predictions covering technological innovations, market expansions and evolving sustainability priorities.

Editorials

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

2 min read

ITSA Selected as Liaison Organisation to EU Standards Body

In the February 2024 issue of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™, we described how the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) had submitted recommendations1 for a secure and interoperable implementation of the EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC).

Associations Free Free

3 Feb. 2025

1 min read

Tax Stamps for Hong Kong in 2026

Hong Kong’s new Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat has announced that a tax stamp system for tobacco could be introduced in the third quarter of 2026 at the earliest, with a pilot scheme set for mid-2025.

Excise Products

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

1 min read

Smurfit Kappa Secures Irish Tobacco Stamp Contract

Following a competitive tender, Smurfit Kappa Security Concepts (SKSC) has been awarded a contract by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners – the Irish government agency responsible for customs and excise – to supply tobacco tax stamps, in the wake of tax increases introduced in 2024 and 2025.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

21 Jan. 2025

4 min read

Understanding Unclonable Patterns

Being unique is something we value in people, products, and even security. When something is so unique that it can’t be copied, it becomes a powerful tool to fight counterfeiting. Researchers are now creating unclonable patterns – designs that in theory can’t be reproduced – to protect products and prove they’re genuine.

Technology & Systems

Chander S Jeena

21 Jan. 2025

2 min read

A Giant of Anti-Counterfeiting: John Anderson, 1950-2025

John Anderson, Chairman of the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group until last year, died in early January after a difficult illness.

Editorials

Treegen

21 Jan. 2025

5 min read

Balancing Traceability and Authentication: Challenges for Governments and Manufacturers

There is a common belief that traceability solutions alone will eliminate counterfeiting and simplify product authentication. However, while item-level traceability enhances product transparency, the most commonly adopted technologies come with vulnerabilities, especially in terms of authentication.

Free Track and Trace Free

Chander S Jeena

21 Jan. 2025

3 min read

Notorious Markets Report Highlights Growth in Counterfeit Drugs from Online Pharmacies

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has released its 2024 Review of Notorious Markets, highlighting the global online and physical markets for trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.

Consumer & Industrial Products

Sven Bergmann

21 Jan. 2025

5 min read

Real Authentication Labels on Fake Vapor Products

This article looks at the newly created, massive illicit market in vapor products originating mainly from China and sold in the United States. Despite being banned in both countries, brands like Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Lost Mary continue to circulate. What’s more, they carry authentication labels that falsely suggest legitimacy, further exacerbating illicit trade.

Consumer & Industrial Products

Chander S Jeena

21 Jan. 2025

4 min read

Could 2025 be the Year for Smart and Sustainable IoT Labels?

At the recent CES 2025 consumer electronics event in Las Vegas, two companies, Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Linxens, unveiled their new smart label solutions, marking a significant advance in brand protection and supply chain integrity.

Technology & Systems

Chander S Jeena

21 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Upcoming Events in Security Printing and Product Authentication

As the new year begins, it’s an ideal time to look at forthcoming events in authentication, security printing, tax stamps, and brand protection.

Events

Chander S Jeena

21 Jan. 2025

2 min read

G+D Launches Smart Label for Supply Chain Tracking

International security technology group Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has launched the G+D Smart Label, a second-generation tracking solution that transforms any package into an IoT (Internet of Things) device.

Technology & Systems

Latest News

Stronger Together: Merging Technologies for Secure Future

US Postal Service Unveils Money Order with Enhanced Security

Uruguay is Still Smokin’ Hot!

Stamping Out Illicit Trade: A Look Inside Excise Revenue Protection

India Moves Forward with Track and Trace on Cigarettes

Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum 2025 – The Programme So Far

Belarus’ Role in Illicit Trade Under Scrutiny

Swedish Health Agency Presents Tobacco Security Labels

Predicting Trends That Will Define Stamps and Traceability in 2025

ITSA Selected as Liaison Organisation to EU Standards Body

Tax Stamps for Hong Kong in 2026

Smurfit Kappa Secures Irish Tobacco Stamp Contract

Understanding Unclonable Patterns

A Giant of Anti-Counterfeiting: John Anderson, 1950-2025

Balancing Traceability and Authentication: Challenges for Governments and Manufacturers

Notorious Markets Report Highlights Growth in Counterfeit Drugs from Online Pharmacies

Real Authentication Labels on Fake Vapor Products

Could 2025 be the Year for Smart and Sustainable IoT Labels?

Upcoming Events in Security Printing and Product Authentication

G+D Launches Smart Label for Supply Chain Tracking

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