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Latest News

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

30 Sept. 2020

2 min read

Illicit Tobacco Most Reported Counterfeit Product in UK

Cigarettes and tobacco products were the most reported counterfeit goods in the UK in 2019/20, according to a survey conducted by the country’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and IP Crime Office.

Illicit Trade Reports & Studies

Nicola Sudan

30 Sept. 2020

1 min read

Liberia Introduces Tax Stamps for First Time

The West African country of Liberia will this year be introducing tax stamps for the first time. In the second quarter of 2020, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) awarded a contract to Madras Security Printers for tax stamps on tobacco products, spirits, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tax Stamps

Telita Snyckers

1 Sept. 2020

7 min read

Perspectives on the WCO 2020 Illicit Trade Report: Tobacco

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has released the annual update of its Illicit Trade Report (ITR). Reports were submitted by 86 countries – up significantly from 54 countries in 2018, making it more representative than previous iterations.

Illicit Trade Reports & Studies

Nicola Sudan

28 Aug. 2020

2 min read

ASPA and GS1 India Sign MoU

At the end of June, the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) and GS1 India joined forces to, as they describe, take the fight against counterfeiting to the next level in India, with the use of global standards.

Companies Standards

Nicola Sudan

28 Aug. 2020

5 min read

New Marking Systems for Togo and DR Congo

While South Africa battles with booming illicit tobacco and alcohol trade that, according to its revenue service, ‘may or may not require track and trace’, other countries in Africa are moving swiftly ahead with the introduction of secure marking and track and trace systems before the end of this year.

Countries

Nicola Sudan

28 Aug. 2020

2 min read

TSTN is Going Online

Reconnaissance International, publisher of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ (TSTN), is pleased to announce that with effect from September 2020, TSTN will be moving to a new online platform, incorporating a regular newsfeed service alongside the monthly newsletter.

Telita Snyckers

28 Aug. 2020

5 min read

Update on South Africa: Bans and Booming Illicit Trade, Exploiting Systemic Weaknesses

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, South Africa introduced two highly contentious prohibitions, banning the sale of both alcohol and tobacco products. The impact has seen both a complete loss of all duties and taxes from these commodities, and a booming illicit trade.

Excise Products Free Illicit Trade Free

Nicola Sudan

28 Aug. 2020

3 min read

Tax Stamps can Boost Government Finances in Post-COVID World, Says ITSA

In July, an online webinar held by the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) brought together 160 stakeholders from around the world to discuss best practices for implementing a tobacco control and revenue-raising programme, against the backdrop of the WHO FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Associations Regulations

Nicola Sudan

28 Aug. 2020

4 min read

New Tax Stamp Report Launching in September

Next month, Reconnaissance International will launch the much-awaited third edition of Tax Stamps & Traceability: A Market Analysis and Technical Update – which, since the launch of the first edition back in 2007, has remained the only authoritative report of its kind.

Reports & Studies

Nicola Sudan

28 Aug. 2020

1 min read

Perum Peruri Responds to TSTN Article re Nepal Tender

In the July issue of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ (TSTN), we referred to a news article in The Kathmandu Post, claiming that Perum Peruri, which had been selected in March to supply tobacco and alcohol tax stamps to Nepal’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD), had failed to show up for the signing of the contract for the stamps, and that the IRD had subsequently initiated legal action against the company.

Companies Tenders

Nicola Sudan

28 Aug. 2020

1 min read

Domino Acquires Lake Image Systems

Domino Printing Sciences, a producer of coding, marking and printing technologies, has acquired Lake Image Systems, a producer of automated, inline, vision-based inspection systems.

Companies

Nicola Sudan

30 July 2020

4 min read

Recent Developments in Document Biometrics for Tax Stamps

The term ‘biometrics’ is commonly used to describe technologies that employ human features that are unique to individuals – such as fingerprints or retinal eye patterns – as a way to identify those individuals. But the term is also employed, within the authentication industry, to describe technologies which use the intrinsic microscopic or molecular properties unique to items such as tax stamps to identify and thereby authenticate those items. Hence the term ‘document biometrics’, or ‘fingerprinting’.

Authentication Tax Stamps Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

30 July 2020

1 min read

Philippines Fuel Marking Programme Hits 10 Billion Litres

In July, the Philippines government reached a milestone in its fuel marking programme when it surpassed 10 billion litres of fuel marked, according to a BusinessWorld article.

Excise Products

Nicola Sudan

30 July 2020

3 min read

Nepal Tax Stamp Provider Fails to Sign Contract

The Indonesian company Perum Peruri, which was selected in March to supply tobacco and alcohol tax stamps to Nepal’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD), has failed to show up for the signing of the contract for the stamps, reports The Kathmandu Post. This situation is made all the more strange considering Perum Peruri’s longstanding relationship with the department.

Companies Tenders

Michael Eads

30 July 2020

11 min read

Blockchain and Excise Supply Chains: Hype, Conjecture and Reality

Blockchain has generated nothing short of hysteria in the technology world. Blockchain made its big public debut in tandem with a new form of currency, the volatile but very real bitcoin, the world's first crypto-currency that many thought would be the end to traditional money.

Technology & Systems

Chander S Jeena

30 July 2020

3 min read

Illicit Trade in Southeast Asia – Thailand Banking Big on Digital Technologies

In the February issue of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™, we launched a series of articles by Chander S Jeena, on the illicit tobacco trade in Southeast Asia and how it is being dealt with. This month we continue the series with an update on the situation in Thailand, although this time we are expanding our focus to include products other than tobacco.

Countries Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicole Semenza

30 July 2020

10 min read

When Will the Cannabis Revolution Happen?

2020 was supposed to be the year cannabis went mainstream in the United States. As the New Year rang in, cannabis was already legalised for medical use in 33 states and even legalised for adult recreational use in 11 states.

Excise Products Free Free

Ian Lancaster

29 June 2020

4 min read

OpSec’s Equinox: Technology Review

In the year following the US state of Michigan’s introduction of a new tobacco excise tax stamp in 2014, tax revenues increased by $15.7 million – when they had in fact been predicted to decline – and exceeded the forecast for the year by nearly $30 million. Furthermore, it took only one year to recoup the costs of introducing this new stamp. Similarly, in Mozambique, alcohol and tobacco excise tax revenues increased by 85% in the first year after the introduction of a new stamp in 2017.

Companies Free Technology & Systems Free

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2020

3 min read

Fuel Marking Scheme Boosts Mozambique’s Tax Revenue

In a few months’ time, the current contract for the fuel marking scheme in Mozambique will reach expiry, but it seems likely that the country will choose to continue the scheme, given the positive impact it has had on tax revenues, reports the pan-African news platform The African Exponent.

Excise Products

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2020

2 min read

SICPA Wins Contract for Alcohol Excise Solution in Oregon

SICPA has been awarded a new 10-year contract to implement its SICPA Excise Tax System (SETS), which will provide a secure, online platform for the payment, collection, and tracking of Oregon’s alcohol privilege taxes (also known as excise taxes).

Companies Excise Products

Latest News

Illicit Tobacco Most Reported Counterfeit Product in UK

Liberia Introduces Tax Stamps for First Time

Perspectives on the WCO 2020 Illicit Trade Report: Tobacco

ASPA and GS1 India Sign MoU

New Marking Systems for Togo and DR Congo

TSTN is Going Online

Update on South Africa: Bans and Booming Illicit Trade, Exploiting Systemic Weaknesses

Tax Stamps can Boost Government Finances in Post-COVID World, Says ITSA

New Tax Stamp Report Launching in September

Perum Peruri Responds to TSTN Article re Nepal Tender

Domino Acquires Lake Image Systems

Recent Developments in Document Biometrics for Tax Stamps

Philippines Fuel Marking Programme Hits 10 Billion Litres

Nepal Tax Stamp Provider Fails to Sign Contract

Blockchain and Excise Supply Chains: Hype, Conjecture and Reality

Illicit Trade in Southeast Asia – Thailand Banking Big on Digital Technologies

When Will the Cannabis Revolution Happen?

OpSec’s Equinox: Technology Review

Fuel Marking Scheme Boosts Mozambique’s Tax Revenue

SICPA Wins Contract for Alcohol Excise Solution in Oregon

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