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Filtered by Strategies — 18 articles

Nicola Sudan

31 May 2026

4 min read

Natural Branding: When the Product Becomes the Label

The idea that a product can authenticate itself has long fascinated the security and traceability industry. In sectors ranging from banknotes and identity documents to luxury goods and pharmaceuticals, technology providers have increasingly explored the use of intrinsic physical characteristics as a means of authentication – turning naturally occurring randomness into a unique fingerprint.

Strategies Sustainability

Nicola Sudan

4 March 2026

5 min read

Production Monitoring in Pakistan – From Cigarettes to Day-Old Chicks!

Although Pakistan is still grappling with the nationwide rollout and effective enforcement of its tax stamp and production monitoring system – introduced in 2021 on tobacco products, sugar, cement and fertiliser – the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has now turned its attention to extending a similar system to other sectors at high risk of tax evasion – including tiles, tyres, iron and steel, cotton bales, beverages... and day-old chicks!

Countries Strategies Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

24 Feb. 2026

3 min read

AI No longer Just an Option for Brand Protection

A blog article by IP lawyer and brand expert Relani Belous, titled ‘AI is the New Frontline for Brand Protection’, examines how artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the ‘weapon of choice’ for both sides in the brand protection conflict: brand owners and counterfeiters.

Brand Protection Strategies

Nicola Sudan

24 Feb. 2026

3 min read

The Limited Legal Weight of Brand Protection Labels

A recent decision of the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court in Taiwan demonstrates that the absence of an anticounterfeiting label on a product may not, on its own, prove that the seller of the product ‘knew’ it was fake.

Brand Protection Free Strategies Free

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

2 min read

One Device to Authenticate Multiple Brands

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has formalised a partnership with the Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement (AGMA) – a nonprofit coalition of technology companies, distributors, and service providers. Under the partnership, AGMA will provide CBP officers nationwide with the ‘One Device’ platform for authenticating multiple brands or product lines.

Strategies Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

2 min read

Koenig & Bauer and Schwarz Druck Launch ‘Protected at Print’ Initiative

Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection has announced a strategic partnership with security printing company Schwarz Druck for the launch of its ‘protected at print’ initiative – an important step towards integrating smartphone-readable authentication into the design of secure documents, before printing.

Companies Strategies Technology & Systems

Nicola Sudan

30 Oct. 2025

4 min read

AURORA: Bosch and ANY’s Integrated Approach to Document Security

At the Optical & Digital Document Security™ conference in September, Adrian Monostori of ANY Security Printing and Oliver Steinbis of Bosch Secure Authentication (BSA) presented AURORA, a jointly developed application of Bosch’s Origify system. The aim of the application is to bring an additional layer of protection to tax stamps in the form of a multilayered QR code.

Companies Strategies Technology & Systems

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

21 July 2025

9 min read

Excise Tax Systems – Breaking Down the Silos

During the April 2025 Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™, Linstrom Marangu, Health Tax Specialist from the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), chaired a panel discussion on the need to integrate excise systems into an overarching tax administration platform.

Free Strategies Free

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Sven Bergmann

21 July 2025

5 min read

US Enforcement on Illicit Vapor Finally Gains Steam

In a move that is both welcome and long overdue, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced the seizure of nearly $34 million worth of unauthorized e-cigarettes during a coordinated operation at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport. The scale and scope of this joint action – nearly 1.4 million units of illegal products – signals a critical shift: enforcement against the illicit vapor market is no longer just theoretical.

Illicit Trade Strategies

21 July 2025

4 min read

AI Helps Tanzania Optimise Inspections and Enforcement

According to local press, the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has successfully raised the level of compliance in the market of excisable goods subject to tax stamps, thanks, in large part, to the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Case Studies Strategies

Chander S Jeena

29 May 2025

3 min read

Mergers at One End, Capacity Building at the Other

Whilst the authentication industry is witnessing consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, it is also seeing a strong wave of investment in capacity-building and innovation. This article looks at some of the latest investments within the RFID, holography, and security printing sectors.

Strategies

Francisco Mandiola

27 May 2025

3 min read

Are We Ready for Traceability Challenge from Trump’s Tariff War?

While it is still early days for the Trump administration, news agencies are chock-full of stories to report. Amongst the most popular have been the constant changes in US trade policy, which are not only surprising to many, but which seem to lack a clear path for allowing governments and business to modify their own policies to manage the effects of the US ones.

Strategies Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

28 June 2022

8 min read

Compliance and Beyond: Tax Stamps and Marks in High-Speed Production Markets

Optel Group was a welcome addition to the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ this year as it brought a different emphasis to the table when it comes to tax stamp solution delivery. Dr Foued Barouni, Solutions Manager, presented a paper explaining how high-speed production conditions affect the way tax stamp compliance could be delivered.

Case Studies Strategies

Michael Eads and Ziyaad Butler

14 Feb. 2022

11 min read

Practical Considerations for Implementing Tax Stamp and Traceability Systems

Over the years, the business case for using tax stamps has increased considerably, in tandem with the emergence of new technologies and best practices for managing excise and other goods that require robust supply chain controls.

Reports & Studies Strategies

Francisco Mandiola

8 June 2021

6 min read

The Challenges of Economic Informality During COVID-19

The growth of informal economic activity has become a challenge throughout the Latin American region. To address this, the Swiss-Chilean Chamber of Commerce recently held a webinar to discuss the challenges of informality (in employment, government, taxation), as well as the actions that policymakers, in the region and elsewhere, could take to halt an increasing trend resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Case Studies Events Free Free

Michael Eads

29 June 2020

6 min read

How Coronavirus Will Likely Impact the Tax Stamp Industry… Continued

In the April edition of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ (TSTN) we looked at the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic vis-à-vis the tax stamp industry with a view to anticipating what the implications might be for the industry. This article provides an update of sorts, exploring the same themes in terms of additional data points that may help us to better understand how the industry may be impacted.

Strategies Tax & Revenue

Latest News

Natural Branding: When the Product Becomes the Label

Production Monitoring in Pakistan – From Cigarettes to Day-Old Chicks!

AI No longer Just an Option for Brand Protection

The Limited Legal Weight of Brand Protection Labels

One Device to Authenticate Multiple Brands

Koenig & Bauer and Schwarz Druck Launch ‘Protected at Print’ Initiative

AURORA: Bosch and ANY’s Integrated Approach to Document Security

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

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

Excise Tax Systems – Breaking Down the Silos

US Enforcement on Illicit Vapor Finally Gains Steam

AI Helps Tanzania Optimise Inspections and Enforcement

Mergers at One End, Capacity Building at the Other

Are We Ready for Traceability Challenge from Trump’s Tariff War?

Compliance and Beyond: Tax Stamps and Marks in High-Speed Production Markets

Practical Considerations for Implementing Tax Stamp and Traceability Systems

The Challenges of Economic Informality During COVID-19

How Coronavirus Will Likely Impact the Tax Stamp Industry… Continued

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