The American Lung Association (ALA) has called for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to propose and finalise regulations to implement track and trace technology on all tobacco products to prevent illicit trade, including counterfeiting and smuggling activities.

In India, cigarettes are expected to be among the first products to be brought under a track and trace mechanism aimed at curbing tax evasion, following amendments to the Central Goods & Services Tax (GST) Act. Pan masala (a popular chewing mixture) may also be included in the initiative.

The Excise Department of Thailand has launched its ‘QR Cigarette’ system, comprised of tax stamps with unique QR codes and serial numbers. By scanning the code, users can access detailed product information, such as brand, manufacturer, tax payment date, shipping location, and price.

This article looks at the newly created, massive illicit market in vapor products originating mainly from China and sold in the United States (US). Despite being banned in both China and the US, brands like Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Lost Mary continue to circulate. What’s more, they carry authentication labels that falsely suggest legitimacy, further exacerbating illicit trade.

Chile’s fiscal traceability system on tobacco products (SITRAF) has been instrumental in allowing the Chilean tax authority, Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII) to identify a company that has been illegally manufacturing cigarettes in the country.

Recognising the importance of track and trace systems for curbing tax evasion in key industries such as tobacco, cement, sugar, and fertiliser, the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has constituted a 10-member task force to address the technical, legal, and administrative challenges hindering the progress of such systems.

As has thankfully become a bit of a tradition again, post-COVID, ITSA (International Tax Stamp Association) recently held a pre-conference seminar on the occasion of the High Security Printing™ Latin America conference, which this year took place in Santiago, Chile.

According to Statista, the e-cigarette market is projected to generate revenue of $26 billion in 2024, with a 3.93% global compound annual growth rate between 2024-2029. While the legitimate market is growing, the vape industry, like other sectors, is plagued by counterfeit and other illicit products.

Francisco Mandiola looks at some interesting developments in seafood traceability, including a new certification system in Chile that captures images of fish on a conveyer line and then uses specific algorithms to identify each species.

Metrc, the leading provider of cannabis regulatory technology systems to US state governments, has announced a new contract with the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, a federally recognised Native American tribe located in Southern California. This represents the first ever track and trace contract with a tribal government.