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Filtered by Government — 17 articles

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

2 Feb. 2026

5 min read

India, Cigarettes and Alcohol: One Country, Two Excise Philosophies

India’s recent excise tax overhaul marks a renewed tightening of tobacco excise control. Duty structures on cigarettes have been revised, compliance obligations at manufacturing sites strengthened, and enforcement powers sharpened. But nowhere in this new framework is there a requirement to apply tax stamps to individual cigarette packs. This strategy contrasts starkly with the country’s state-level alcohol control systems, which rely heavily on physical tax stamps.

Countries Events Free Free

Chander S Jeena

2 Feb. 2026

3 min read

From Motors to Medicines: Malaysia’s Model for National Authentication

In October 2025, Malaysia fully implemented mandatory certification and labelling for engine oils as part of a national effort to combat the growing problem of counterfeit lubricants in the market. Before that, in 2005, Malaysia launched one of the world’s earliest nationwide pharmaceutical anticounterfeiting programmes, demonstrating the country’s longstanding recognition of the value of national authentication and supply chain control schemes.

Authentication Consumer & Industrial Products Countries

Nicola Sudan

2 Feb. 2026

2 min read

India Plans National ID System for Batteries

India is moving toward unit-level traceability for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways proposing a Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN) similar to the ID number assigned to Indian citizens under the Aadhaar scheme.

Consumer & Industrial Products Countries Government

Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2025

2 min read

Parties to FCTC Protocol Adopt Decision on Tobacco Seizure Mapping

The Fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products – which took place 24-26 November in Geneva, Switzerland – has concluded with a series of decisions to strengthen measures on international cooperation, including a decision on the mapping of tobacco product seizures.

Events Excise Products Government

Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2025

8 min read

Protocol Progressing – But Mind the Gaps, Says MOP4 Report

At the recent Fourth Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) to the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products1, the FCTC Secretariat released its latest Protocol implementation status report2, including the status of track and trace programmes. While the report concludes that advances are being made with regard to Protocol implementation, there are still wide gaps remaining. Furthermore, the report cautions readers to tread carefully with regard to its findings, given that it is based on data that is generally quite sparse.

Government Illicit Trade Regulations

Francisco Mandiola

4 Dec. 2025

4 min read

Tax Stamps and New Government Administrations in Latin America: Reshaping Fiscal Traceability?

Latin America is currently passing through a dense electoral cycle, with Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Honduras, Costa Rica and Peru undergoing government transitions this year and into early 2026 (there’s also Haiti, with expected elections in 2025/26, although security and logistical issues make these unlikely).

Government Tax & Revenue

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

29 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Chad Hosts Technical Experts from WHO FCTC Secretariat

In September, technical experts from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat engaged with Chad government officials, parliamentarians, civil society organisations and other national stakeholders in a joint needs assessment to support the country’s implementation of the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which it has been party to since 2018.

Countries Excise Products Government

Nicola Sudan

29 Sept. 2025

1 min read

Indonesia Reviews Cigarette Excise Amid Forgery Allegations

According to Tobacco Reporter, Indonesia’s government is conducting an in-depth review of its cigarette excise system following allegations of forgery and manipulation, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto.

Countries Government Tax & Revenue

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Nicola Sudan

2 Sept. 2025

2 min read

Optical Features Retained in Argentina’s Revamped Tax Stamps

Argentina’s cigarette tax stamps have undergone a redesign following the transformation of the country’s tax authority from the Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos (AFIP) to the Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero (ARCA). While the change reflects new institutional branding and regulatory updates under General Resolution 5603/2024, the stamps’ core optical security features remain firmly in place.

Government Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

2 Sept. 2025

3 min read

Carolina Saravia: Career Civil Servant and Chile’s New Tax Chief

Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ readers may remember Carolina Saravia from the 2024 article ‘Chile’s Tobacco Traceability System Uncovers Illicit Production in Santiago’.

Government

Francisco Mandiola

30 May 2024

3 min read

How Sweet It Is – Chile Tax Authority Blamed for Price Rise on Sweetened Beverages

As of 31 May, Chile’s largest beverage company, CCU, will increase consumer prices on nectars, hypotonic and isotonic drinks, by 9%, to absorb a change in the calculation of value-added tax on non-alcoholic drinks. The change was announced in April by the Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII), Chile’s tax authority.

Government

Nicola Sudan

27 July 2023

1 min read

South Africa’s Tax Commissioner Elected Chairperson of WCO

At the recent World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council session, in Brussels, Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), was elected as chairperson of the Council, replacing Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Director General of Bahrain Customs.

Government

Nicola Sudan

24 May 2023

5 min read

20 Years of WHO FCTC – Achievements and Challenges

One of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) celebrates its 20th anniversary in May 2023.

Government Regulations

Telita Snyckers

7 March 2023

5 min read

Aligning Secure Marking and Traceability with Other Government Objectives: The WCO SAFE Framework

Secure marking and excise taxes operate hand in glove. But excise duties usually account for a small percentage of countries’ overall tax take.

Case Studies Government Standards

Telita Snyckers

25 Sept. 2019

9 min read

The SARS Tender: Can an Agency in Turmoil be Both Agile and Prudent?

At the recent Tax Stamp Forum™ in Budapest one question that kept coming up was: what is the status of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) tender for a tax stamp or secure marking solution for tobacco products? (The current SARS tender has already been extended twice, with the closing date for submissions now set for 31 October 2019.)

Government Tenders

Latest News

South Africa Welcomes New Tax Commissioner

India, Cigarettes and Alcohol: One Country, Two Excise Philosophies

From Motors to Medicines: Malaysia’s Model for National Authentication

India Plans National ID System for Batteries

Parties to FCTC Protocol Adopt Decision on Tobacco Seizure Mapping

Protocol Progressing – But Mind the Gaps, Says MOP4 Report

Tax Stamps and New Government Administrations in Latin America: Reshaping Fiscal Traceability?

Brands Drive NFC – But Regulators Drive Barcodes

Chad Hosts Technical Experts from WHO FCTC Secretariat

Indonesia Reviews Cigarette Excise Amid Forgery Allegations

Optical Features Retained in Argentina’s Revamped Tax Stamps

Carolina Saravia: Career Civil Servant and Chile’s New Tax Chief

How Sweet It Is – Chile Tax Authority Blamed for Price Rise on Sweetened Beverages

South Africa’s Tax Commissioner Elected Chairperson of WCO

20 Years of WHO FCTC – Achievements and Challenges

Aligning Secure Marking and Traceability with Other Government Objectives: The WCO SAFE Framework

The SARS Tender: Can an Agency in Turmoil be Both Agile and Prudent?

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