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Latest News

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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 Oct. 2025

4 min read

Protecting the Star – Mercedes-Benz’s Global Fight Against Fakes

This article describes the strategic approach of Mercedes-Benz – one of the world’s most iconic brand names – to ensuring the authenticity and safety of its automotive components.

Brand Protection Strategies

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

1 min read

SICPA and Commstack Launch Joint Venture for Mine-to-Market Traceability

SICPA and Commstack, a provider of digital infrastructure for commodity traceability and responsible trade, have announced a strategic joint venture to enhance transparency and accountability across the mining supply chain – starting with gold and other high- value commodities.

Companies Strategies Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

4 min read

ITSA Raises Concern Over Weakened DPP Provisions

This summer, the draft versions of several European standards for digital product passports (DPPs) were published for public review and enquiry. One of these drafts – prEN 18246:2025 – covers the authentication, reliability and integrity of DPP data, with the aim of minimising product fraud and counterfeiting.

Associations Standards

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

3 min read

Brands Drive NFC – But Regulators Drive Barcodes

As demonstrated by IFA Celtics’ recent launch of NFC labels on pharma products, the brand-specific deployments of NFC tags for product authentication and traceability are on the rise. Nevertheless, 2D barcodes continue to reign supreme in pharma, excise, and most regulated supply chains – because they are required by law.

Government Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

2 min read

Hong Kong Pilots Holographic Tax Stamps on Cigarettes

Hong Kong Customs has started a threemonth pilot scheme under its new duty stamp system to tackle illicit tobacco sales and ensure tax compliance.

Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

4 min read

Tamil Nadu Leads Again: First with Tax Stamps, Now QR Buy-Back Schemes

The Excise Department of Tamil Nadu, India, has issued a tender for a digital platform and unique QR code stickers to support a buy-back scheme for empty liquor containers. The codes will be affixed to liquor, beer, and wine containers sold through state-run retail outlets across Tamil Nadu. These outlets (known as TASMAC – Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation – outlets) play a central role in the legal sale of alcohol in the state, given that Tamil Nadu maintains a monopoly on such sales.

Sustainability Tax Stamps Tenders

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

3 min read

When IR Patterns Become Tunable

Until now, infrared-based security features have faced a drawback, in that once a pattern is printed or encoded, it cannot be changed. Most systems are static, meaning the same hidden pattern is locked in at the point of manufacture, limiting the complexity and adaptability of the protection.

Advanced Materials Covert & Forensic Security

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

2 min read

Pakistan Floats Tender for Tile Traceability – Only to Cancel it a Few Weeks Later

Following the implementation of tax stamps and production monitoring on tobacco products, sugar, fertiliser and cement, Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has now turned its attention to another large-scale manufacturing sector: tiles.

Tax Stamps Tenders Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

2 min read

South Africa Launches Plan to Combat Falsified and Substandard Medicines

In September, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) released its Traceability Guideline Implementation Roadmap to accompany a broader national action plan to combat falsified and substandard (SF) medicines. The guideline aims to enhance supply chain transparency and regulatory oversight through unique product identification across the health sector.

Regulations Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

28 Oct. 2025

3 min read

When IR Patterns Become Tunable

Until now, infrared-based security has faced a drawback, in that once a pattern is printed or encoded, it cannot be changed. Most systems are static, meaning the same hidden pattern is locked in at the point of manufacture, limiting the complexity and adaptability of the protection.

Advanced Materials Covert & Forensic Security

Nicola Sudan

20 Oct. 2025

1 min read

Hong Kong Pilots Holographic Tax Stamps on Cigarettes

Hong Kong Customs has started a three-month pilot scheme under its new duty stamp system to tackle illicit tobacco sales and ensure tax compliance.

Tax Stamps

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

4 min read

From Authentication News to Tax Stamp & Authentication News – A Continuing Journey

After three decades as a leading source of information for the authentication industry, Authentication & Brand News™ (ABN) is entering a new chapter. Starting in October 2025, ABN will merge with its sister publication, Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ (TSTN), to form a single, expanded publication: Tax Stamp & Authentication News™ (TSAN).

Editorials

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

2 min read

MarqVision Secures $48 Million for AI-Powered Brand Control

US startup MarqVision has completed a $48 million second-round financing that will be used to roll out its AI-based engine for detecting and removing counterfeit and pirated goods across online platforms.

Companies

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

3 min read

Through the Optical Lens: Securing Medicines Against Counterfeits

The pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, adopting new technologies and optimising resources to meet authentication and anticounterfeiting challenges.

Free Technology & Systems Free

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has announced a budget of KRW 7.248 billion ($5.2 million) for 2026, representing a 2.7% increase from the current year.

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

1 min read

Guinea-Bissau Implements National System to Ensure Pharmaceutical Authenticity

Guinea-Bissau has enacted a national mandate for pharmaceutical traceability, establishing a regulatory system that requires the tracking and authentication of every medicine throughout the supply chain.

Track and Trace

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

4 min read

Secure Documents at Crossroads of Optical and Digital Innovation

Warsaw, Poland, played host to the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) 2025 conference from 15-17 September. The event confirmed once again that ODDS is the world’s leading forum (some would argue only forum) for the science and technology of secure documents.

Events

Chander S Jeena

30 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Bunge and CP Group Enhance Blockchain Soya Traceability

Global agribusiness leader Bunge has strengthened its partnership with Bangkok Produce Merchandising (BKP), a subsidiary of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), to improve soya traceability from Brazil. This initiative represents a significant step toward creating more transparent, responsible, and sustainable agricultural supply chains in Southeast Asia.

Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

29 Sept. 2025

2 min read

A New Chapter Begins for TSTN

In 2019, we decided to expand the scope of Tax Stamp News™ (as it was called back then) into the traceability realm, in order to reflect the fact that national tax stamp programmes were becoming increasingly integrated into production monitoring and track and trace systems.

Free Free

Nicola Sudan

29 Sept. 2025

9 min read

Track and Trace Success and Failure Under Scrutiny at ITSA Webinar

At the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) webinar held on 24 September – with 24 revenue/customs authorities in attendance – guest speaker Dr Hana Ross from the University of Cape Town and Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies examined the prerequisites for achieving track and trace success on excisable products, referring to real-world cases of successful and failed systems.

Associations Case Studies Excise Products

Latest News

Protecting the Star – Mercedes-Benz’s Global Fight Against Fakes

SICPA and Commstack Launch Joint Venture for Mine-to-Market Traceability

ITSA Raises Concern Over Weakened DPP Provisions

Brands Drive NFC – But Regulators Drive Barcodes

Hong Kong Pilots Holographic Tax Stamps on Cigarettes

Tamil Nadu Leads Again: First with Tax Stamps, Now QR Buy-Back Schemes

When IR Patterns Become Tunable

Pakistan Floats Tender for Tile Traceability – Only to Cancel it a Few Weeks Later

South Africa Launches Plan to Combat Falsified and Substandard Medicines

When IR Patterns Become Tunable

Hong Kong Pilots Holographic Tax Stamps on Cigarettes

From Authentication News to Tax Stamp & Authentication News – A Continuing Journey

MarqVision Secures $48 Million for AI-Powered Brand Control

Through the Optical Lens: Securing Medicines Against Counterfeits

News in Brief

Guinea-Bissau Implements National System to Ensure Pharmaceutical Authenticity

Secure Documents at Crossroads of Optical and Digital Innovation

Bunge and CP Group Enhance Blockchain Soya Traceability

A New Chapter Begins for TSTN

Track and Trace Success and Failure Under Scrutiny at ITSA Webinar

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