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Filtered by Countries — 120 articles

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2026

3 min read

Mongolia Launches Tender for Next-Generation Excise Tax Stamps

The Mongolian government has launched an international tender for the supply of a new generation of excise tax stamps for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, potentially signalling the country’s next step towards a more digitally enabled excise control system.

Countries Tax Stamps Tenders

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2026

3 min read

Study Finds Enforcement Gaps Drive Philippine Illicit Trade

A recent independent study has challenged tobacco industry claims that high tobacco taxes are driving illicit cigarette trade in the Philippines, concluding instead that enforcement gaps and regional factors are the primary causes of illicit market activity.

Countries Enforcement & Surveillance Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2026

3 min read

If There is Already a Tax Stamp, Why Add Another Mark?

Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has announced the rollout of its Anti-Counterfeit Security Device Regime, which will require designated products to carry a verifiable certification mark designed to help consumers and enforcement agencies authenticate genuine goods.

Authentication Countries Government

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2026

2 min read

Portuguese Handkerchief Secures EU GI Protection

The traditional Lenços de Namorados do Minho (Love Handkerchiefs of Minho) has become the first Portuguese craft product to be registered under the European Union’s new system for craft and industrial geographical indications (GIs).

Countries

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2026

3 min read

New Partnership and Fuel Marking Win for Authentix

Authentix has announced two developments that underline both the expansion of its technology portfolio and its continuing role in government authentication programmes.

Authentication Countries Excise Products

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2026

3 min read

Malaysia Shows Why Authentication Still Needs Physical Security

Malaysia’s Ministry of Health recently found itself defending the country’s FarmaTag™ pharmaceutical authentication programme after media reports questioned whether hologram security labels were still capable of protecting consumers from counterfeit medicines.

Consumer & Industrial Products Countries Government

Chander S Jeena

31 May 2026

5 min read

From ‘Made in China’ to ‘Brands from China’

Over the past four decades, China has undergone one of the most significant industrial transformations of the modern era, evolving from the ‘factory floor of the world’ to a country focused on building global brands.

Brand Protection Countries

Nicola Sudan

31 May 2026

3 min read

South Africa Revives National Track and Trace Plans to Tackle Illicit Trade

Six years after its first serious attempt to introduce a tobacco track and trace system, South Africa is once again signalling its intention to implement track and trace, this time under the leadership of the National Consumer Commission (NCC) and as part of a broader strategy to combat illicit trade across multiple sectors.

Countries Excise Products Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

31 May 2026

2 min read

Sri Lanka Credits Tax Stamps with 60% Rise in Alcohol Excise Revenue

The Excise Department of Sri Lanka says excise revenue from alcoholic beverages has increased by more than 60% since the introduction of tax stamps on liquor bottles in 2022.

Countries Excise Products Tax Stamps

Aftab Baloch

18 May 2026

5 min read

Cargo Tracking System: Pakistan’s Digital Offensive Against Smuggling and Tax Evasion

Pakistan is undertaking one of the most significant trade-monitoring reforms in its history with the introduction of a nationwide cargo tracking system (CTS). The initiative is designed to replace the country’s paper-based transport documentation with a fully digital platform capable of monitoring the movement of goods from origin to destination in near real time.

Countries Enforcement & Surveillance Free Free

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Nicola Sudan

6 April 2026

2 min read

South Korea Unveils State-Backed K-Brand Authentication Mark

South Korea is set to introduce a government-backed K-brand certification mark aimed at tackling the global spread of counterfeit Korean goods – estimated at $9.7 billion annually – signalling a shift towards a more coordinated, state-led approach to brand protection.

Authentication Countries Free Free

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

Nicola Sudan

25 March 2026

2 min read

Guam Launches Tobacco Stamps – Nine Years After They Came Into Law

Nearly a decade after legislation was first enacted, the US island territory of Guam has begun implementing a tax stamp programme on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Countries Tax Stamps

Nicola Sudan

25 March 2026

4 min read

Counterfeiting in India – A Market Flooded with Fakes

The scale and persistence of counterfeiting in India’s consumer markets has once again been laid bare, with the release of the ‘State of Counterfeiting in India 2025’ report by the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA), in collaboration with CRISIL Intelligence. Launched at TAF Connect 2026, the study provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots to date of how counterfeit goods are infiltrating supply chains, reshaping consumer behaviour, and challenging enforcement efforts across the country.

Countries Reports & Studies

Aftab Baloch

25 March 2026

3 min read

Sri Lanka’s Excise Control System Leaves Tobacco Behind

Sri Lanka’s approach to excise control tells a story of uneven progress. In the alcohol sector, a combination of secure tax stamps, digital verification tools and emerging system-wide reforms has created a robust framework for revenue protection and market oversight. In contrast, tobacco remains outside this ecosystem, with no equivalent system in place – despite Sri Lanka having ratified the WHO Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. This divergence highlights a significant gap in the country’s otherwise evolving excise control architecture.

Countries Excise Products

Francisco Mandiola

25 March 2026

2 min read

Chile new chief

In March, a week before the inauguration of José Antonio Kast’s presidential administration in Chile, Jorge Trujillo was appointed director of the country’s tax authority, Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII).

Countries

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

2 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Spectra Systems-SICPA Consortium Wins Bid for UK Vape Stamps

Spectra Systems Corp has announced that its security printing arm, Cartor Security Printers (CSP), is the winning bidder for an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) contract to produce and supply vaping duty stamps. The CSP bid was submitted in consortium with SICPA.

Companies Countries Tax Stamps

Chander S Jeena

2 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Nanosilikhan Partners with TPI to Elevate Tax Stamp Security in India

Nanosilikhan Advanced Materials (formerly Nanobrick), a South Korean company specialising in nanoscale technologies with sophisticated overt and covert features, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Track Pack Innovation (TPI), a provider of eco-friendly, tamper-evident alcohol stamps to several Indian states.

Advanced Materials Companies Countries

Chander S Jeena

2 Feb. 2026

2 min read

Australia’s Postal Service Uses AI Tool to Tackle Fake Stamps

Australia Post has launched a new AI counterfeit detection tool to address the problem of fraudulent postage products sold online.

Countries Technology & Systems

Latest News

Mongolia Launches Tender for Next-Generation Excise Tax Stamps

Study Finds Enforcement Gaps Drive Philippine Illicit Trade

If There is Already a Tax Stamp, Why Add Another Mark?

Portuguese Handkerchief Secures EU GI Protection

New Partnership and Fuel Marking Win for Authentix

Malaysia Shows Why Authentication Still Needs Physical Security

From ‘Made in China’ to ‘Brands from China’

South Africa Revives National Track and Trace Plans to Tackle Illicit Trade

Sri Lanka Credits Tax Stamps with 60% Rise in Alcohol Excise Revenue

Cargo Tracking System: Pakistan’s Digital Offensive Against Smuggling and Tax Evasion

South Korea Unveils State-Backed K-Brand Authentication Mark

South Africa Welcomes New Tax Commissioner

Guam Launches Tobacco Stamps – Nine Years After They Came Into Law

Counterfeiting in India – A Market Flooded with Fakes

Sri Lanka’s Excise Control System Leaves Tobacco Behind

Chile new chief

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

Spectra Systems-SICPA Consortium Wins Bid for UK Vape Stamps

Nanosilikhan Partners with TPI to Elevate Tax Stamp Security in India

Australia’s Postal Service Uses AI Tool to Tackle Fake Stamps

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