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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

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

3 min read

Editorial: From Fragmentation to Frameworks – Authentication Grows Up

For years, product authentication has essentially been treated as a brand problem.

Editorials

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

2 min read

Are Oracle or Salesforce Preparing to Enter Cannabis Track and Trace?

According to an MJBizDaily article, the US state of Missouri is looking to replace its current cannabis track and trace provider, Metrc, with another provider, now that the state contract is up for renewal.

Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

2 min read

EU Authorities Seize 3.1 Million Pills During Operation SHIELD VI

For the sixth consecutive year, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has facilitated the efforts of customs authorities from 14 EU member states in cracking down on illicit pharmaceutical products, with the latest coordinated enforcement action – Operation SHIELD VI – leading to the seizure of more than 3.1 million pills across the bloc.

Illicit Trade

Aftab Baloch

20 April 2026

4 min read

Bangladesh Tobacco – Time to Move Beyond Traditional Tax Stamps

Despite the continuing high prevalence of tobacco consumption in Bangladesh, the country has demonstrated strong policy intent, being among the earliest signatories to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), and with a commitment to achieving tobacco-free status by 2040. While several initiatives have been undertaken to increase tobacco taxes, the desired fiscal and public health outcomes have yet to be fully realised, largely due to structural and enforcement limitations.

Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

4 min read

Serialised, But Not Secure: Why Compliance Alone Won’t Stop Fake Medicines

A recent article by Sean O’Hearen of brand protection firm 1st Line Partners, brings the limitations of pharmaceutical serialisation into sharp focus. Drawing on frontline experience in counter-illicit trade, the piece argues that while regulatory frameworks have transformed supply chain visibility, they have not delivered the level of security many assume.

Brand Protection

20 April 2026

4 min read

India: Rajasthan Debuts Multi-Colour Codes, Goa Adopts Tax Stamps

The Rajasthan State Excise Department has strengthened its alcohol control framework with the introduction of a new generation of tax stamps, combining enhanced physical security with upgraded digital verification. The move reflects a broader shift among Indian states towards more robust, multi-layered approaches to combating illicit trade.

Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

4 min read

Gold Traceability – Bringing Control to a Fragmented Supply Chain

The announcement that SICPA is working with the Kyrgyz State Tax Service to implement a gold traceability system underscores a broader shift: governments are beginning to apply a new level of rigour to the management of mineral supply chains.

Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

3 min read

Sugar ‘Fingerprints’ Offer New Route to Seafood Authentication

The global seafood market continues to grapple with persistent mislabelling and substitution, exposing consumers to health risks while undermining trust and sustainability efforts. Against this backdrop, new research from Singapore points to an emerging authentication approach based not on DNA, but on the structural signatures of naturally occurring sugars.

Track and Trace

20 April 2026

4 min read

From Authentication to Intelligence – Securikett Expands its Platform and Materials Innovation

Austrian security label producer Securikett has introduced Codikett 2.0, a cloud-native platform that reflects a broader shift underway in product authentication and traceability – from isolated verification tools to fully integrated, data-driven supply chain systems. Alongside this digital development, the company has also unveiled its ‘structured silicone coating’ technology, signalling a parallel evolution on the physical side of security labelling.

Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

4 min read

A Journey into the Shady World of Online Cosmetics

When a journalist at Wirecutter (New York Times) set out to test how easy it is to buy counterfeit beauty products online, she did so with a simple premise: shop as any consumer would, then verify the results scientifically. What she uncovered was far from reassuring.

Consumer & Industrial Products

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

4 min read

AI Scales Luxury Authentication – But Where Are the Security Features?

Artificial intelligence is no stranger to luxury authentication. For several years, resale platforms and brand protection providers have been using image recognition, database matching, and machine learning to support the identification of counterfeit goods. What is changing now is not the presence of AI, but its role.

Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

20 April 2026

2 min read

Identiv Secures BLE Smart Label Deal on Fresh Food Packaging Containers

Identiv Inc, a NASDAQ-listed provider of RFID and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-enabled Internet of Things solutions, has signed an exclusive agreement with IFCO, a leading fresh food container company, to develop and supply smart BLE labels.

Companies

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

6 April 2026

3 min read

South Africa Welcomes New Tax Commissioner

From May 2026, South African Revenue Service (SARS) will be led by a new Commissioner, Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu, who is currently Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Engagement and Operations. Dr Makhubu succeeds Edward Kieswetter, who has held the role since May 2019.

Countries Government

Chander S Jeena

25 March 2026

4 min read

India Security Press at 100

On 7 March 2026, India Security Press (ISP), in Nashik, Maharashtra, marked its centenary with a series of commemorative events, including the inauguration of a centenary gate and garden, as well as the release of a commemorative postage stamp. While the occasion marked a century of secure document production, it also signalled a broader shift – from traditional printing to integrated systems spanning identity, authentication, and revenue protection.

Companies

Nicola Sudan

25 March 2026

3 min read

Factory Closure Intensifies Calls for Stronger Controls on South African Tobacco Market

The recent announcement by British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) that it will close its Heidelberg cigarette manufacturing plant has added new urgency to the country’s debate over illicit trade and excise enforcement. The closure, which threatens hundreds of jobs and removes a significant piece of South Africa’s formal tobacco manufacturing capacity, has prompted trade unions to enter the discussion more forcefully, arguing that stronger technological enforcement measures are needed to restore order to the market.

Illicit Trade

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

25 March 2026

2 min read

Guam Launches Tobacco Stamps – Nine Years After They Came Into Law

Nearly a decade after legislation was first enacted, the US island territory of Guam has begun implementing a tax stamp programme on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Countries Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

25 March 2026

2 min read

DSG-USA Introduces Holographic Fingerprint Labels on Engine Components

DSG-USA, a global supplier of premium aftermarket engine components for heavy-duty and industrial applications (such as Caterpillar® earthmoving equipment) has launched a new security label to safeguard its products against counterfeiting and grey-market diversion.

Consumer & Industrial Products

Latest News

Editorial: From Fragmentation to Frameworks – Authentication Grows Up

Are Oracle or Salesforce Preparing to Enter Cannabis Track and Trace?

EU Authorities Seize 3.1 Million Pills During Operation SHIELD VI

Bangladesh Tobacco – Time to Move Beyond Traditional Tax Stamps

Serialised, But Not Secure: Why Compliance Alone Won’t Stop Fake Medicines

India: Rajasthan Debuts Multi-Colour Codes, Goa Adopts Tax Stamps

Gold Traceability – Bringing Control to a Fragmented Supply Chain

Sugar ‘Fingerprints’ Offer New Route to Seafood Authentication

From Authentication to Intelligence – Securikett Expands its Platform and Materials Innovation

A Journey into the Shady World of Online Cosmetics

AI Scales Luxury Authentication – But Where Are the Security Features?

Identiv Secures BLE Smart Label Deal on Fresh Food Packaging Containers

How Wine Authentication Is Moving Beyond Origin Labels

South Korea Unveils State-Backed K-Brand Authentication Mark

South Africa Welcomes New Tax Commissioner

India Security Press at 100

Factory Closure Intensifies Calls for Stronger Controls on South African Tobacco Market

From Stamps to Systems: Why ITSA Has a New Name

Guam Launches Tobacco Stamps – Nine Years After They Came Into Law

DSG-USA Introduces Holographic Fingerprint Labels on Engine Components

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