News | Tax Stamp & Authentication News™

Nicola Sudan

29 April 2024

5 min read

Panama: A Global Leader in Tobacco Control – or the World’s Biggest Cigarette Trafficking Hub?

Depending on who you ask, Panama – which recently played host to the COP9 meeting of parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) – is either a best-in- class example of a country using tobacco controls to excellent effect, or the world’s biggest hub for illicit cigarette trade.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

29 April 2024

5 min read

The Ongoing Problem of Counterfeit Postage Stamps – Learnings for Tax Stamps

Although this article concerns ongoing problems with the counterfeiting of postage stamps, some of these stamps now carry a combination of physical and digital features common to tax stamps. Our industry may therefore be interested in recent developments around the counterfeiting of these ‘new-age’ postage stamps.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

2 April 2024

4 min read

Illicit Tobacco in South-East Asia ‘Not Alarmingly High’, WHO Says

The World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region has released a new research report on the illicit trade of tobacco in the region, with the conclusion that illicit levels are ‘generally not alarmingly high in most south-east Asian (SEA) countries’.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

2 April 2024

3 min read

State of Illicit Tobacco in South Africa – Still Disastrous

During his 2024 national budget speech, in February, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the South African Revenue Service (SARS) was deploying closed-circuit television (CCTV) and related technologies on the premises of licensed tobacco manufacturers, to address the high levels of illicit tobacco.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

20 March 2024

4 min read

Illicit Tobacco in South-East Asia ‘Not Alarmingly High’, WHO Says

The World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region has released a new research report on the illicit trade of tobacco in the region, with the conclusion that illicit levels are ‘generally not alarmingly high in most South-East Asian (SEA) countries’.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

5 March 2024

10 min read

Key Decisions Made – And Not Made – at MOP3

The Third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (MOP3) concluded on 15 February, in Panama City, after taking ‘decisive action to combat illicit trade in tobacco products’, according to a press release from the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Illicit Trade

Sarah Smiley

1 Feb. 2024

8 min read

New Study Compares Four Major Illicit Trade Hubs

In 2023, Sovereign Border Solutions (SBS) wrote a series of three articles for Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ focusing on free trade zones (FTZs) and how they have become ‘hotspots’ for the illicit economy.

Illicit Trade

Aftab Baloch

9 Jan. 2024

2 min read

Pakistan Contemplates Track and Trace on Beverages

The manufacturing and sale of counterfeit beverages is alarmingly high in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, the country’s most populated province. This illegal activity is continuing unabated, despite raids and confiscation of machinery carried out by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA).

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

20 Nov. 2023

2 min read

Singapore to Boost FTZ Regulations to Combat Illicit Flows

Singapore is making amendments to its Free Trade Zones Act to enhance regulation and control of goods that flow through the 10 free trade zones (FTZs) in the country.

Illicit Trade

Sven Bergmann

20 Nov. 2023

8 min read

Illicit Tobacco ‘Down Under’ Gets Worse – An Update

During the summer of 2021, I looked at the illicit trade that had started to spin out of control in Australia in the wake of the pandemic.

Excise Products Free Illicit Trade Free

Nicola Sudan

23 Aug. 2023

5 min read

Smoking Out Illicit Tobacco in the UK: A Case of Good Enforcement Practice

Following the news from the UK that tougher sanctions are being introduced on illicit tobacco sellers, this article takes a closer look at the close-knit network of organisations engaged in tackling illicit trade at retail level in the country.

Excise Products Free Illicit Trade Free

Nicola Sudan

23 Aug. 2023

5 min read

WCO Reports Current State of Illicit Tobacco and Alcohol Seizures

Established in 1952, the WCO (World Customs Organisation) is the global centre of customs experience, representing 185 customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Luk Joosens

23 Aug. 2023

2 min read

What’s the Status of Tobacco Track & Trace Under FCTC Protocol?

Smoke Free Partnership, a coalition of NGOs working on EU policy analysis and advocacy linked to the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), has published a report by Luk Joossens, Senior Advisor, on the status of track and trace in countries that are party to the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

27 July 2023

6 min read

Illicit Cigarette Report Spells Bad News for France

KPMG has released the 2023 edition of its annual study, ‘Illicit Cigarette Consumption in the EU, UK, Norway, Switzerland, Moldova and Ukraine’, which reveals an overall increasing rate of illicit consumption in the region, especially in France.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

27 July 2023

6 min read

Track and Trace Working Group Lays Out Recommendations for FCTC Info Share Point

The third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products will take place on 27-30 November in Panama, and the provisional agenda has now been released.

Free Illicit Trade Track and Trace Free

Francisco Mandiola

2 July 2023

4 min read

Déjà Vu in Costa Rica

A little over two years ago, Costa Rica was in the throes of allegations by TRACIT (Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade) that the best way to fight illicit tobacco trade was through a close collaboration between private sector companies (eg. tobacco producers) and the public sector.

Free Illicit Trade Free

Nicola Sudan

2 July 2023

3 min read

Argentina Takes Tobacco Evasion by the Horns

Earlier this year, in an update on Latin America in this same newsletter, we posited that Argentina’s AFIP (Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos), the government institution in charge of the country’s tax policies, would be toughening up its stance against illicit tobacco trade and tax evasion.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

24 May 2023

4 min read

New Tax Stamps Part of Ukraine’s Plan to Eliminate Shadow Economy

Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation has announced that new excise stamps for tobacco and alcohol will be introduced in the country from 1 March 2025, and that they will be linked to the country’s extensive e-governance platform.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

30 March 2023

2 min read

Authorities Uncover First Ever Counterfeit Cigarette Factory in France

In January, more than 60 officers from the French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) raided a location in France, which was found to be an underground factory for counterfeit tobacco. The investigation was initiated as a result of information shared with France by Europol at the end of 2022.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Telita Snyckers

1 Dec. 2022

7 min read

SARS: Doing a Lot, Just Not Quite Enough

The South African case study on dealing with illicit tobacco continues to be an interesting one to follow.

Countries Excise Products Illicit Trade

Latest News

Panama: A Global Leader in Tobacco Control – or the World’s Biggest Cigarette Trafficking Hub?

The Ongoing Problem of Counterfeit Postage Stamps – Learnings for Tax Stamps

Illicit Tobacco in South-East Asia ‘Not Alarmingly High’, WHO Says

State of Illicit Tobacco in South Africa – Still Disastrous

Illicit Tobacco in South-East Asia ‘Not Alarmingly High’, WHO Says

Key Decisions Made – And Not Made – at MOP3

New Study Compares Four Major Illicit Trade Hubs

Pakistan Contemplates Track and Trace on Beverages

Singapore to Boost FTZ Regulations to Combat Illicit Flows

Illicit Tobacco ‘Down Under’ Gets Worse – An Update

Smoking Out Illicit Tobacco in the UK: A Case of Good Enforcement Practice

WCO Reports Current State of Illicit Tobacco and Alcohol Seizures

What’s the Status of Tobacco Track & Trace Under FCTC Protocol?

Illicit Cigarette Report Spells Bad News for France

Track and Trace Working Group Lays Out Recommendations for FCTC Info Share Point

Déjà Vu in Costa Rica

Argentina Takes Tobacco Evasion by the Horns

New Tax Stamps Part of Ukraine’s Plan to Eliminate Shadow Economy

Authorities Uncover First Ever Counterfeit Cigarette Factory in France

SARS: Doing a Lot, Just Not Quite Enough

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