The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives, health and financial well-being of many across the globe. Unfortunately, though, it did not disrupt illicit trade, which is not only alive and well but actually thriving as the pandemic rages on. Countless government and news reports show that the pandemic has created ideal conditions for illicit trade to grow and present an ever-increasing threat.

In September, the University of Bath’s Tobacco Control Research Group, a key partner in the STOP campaign (Stopping Tobacco Organisations and Products) published a case study and profile on South Africa and the country’s handling of the illicit tobacco trade.

The Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT) of the US island territory of Guam in the Western Pacific, is opposing proposed legislation that would require it to hire a private company for the enforcement of tobacco taxes, as well as for the administration of a cigarette tax stamp programme that was supposed to be implemented in October 2018, but which is yet to see the light of day.

An extensive lobbying effort by the tobacco industry has been revealed in a paper by researchers at the University of Bath (UK), published in October in Tobacco Control.

In January 2019, Tanzania rolled out the first phase of its ‘Electronic Tax Stamp’ (ETS) programme, on cigarettes, spirits, wine and beer, followed seven months later by domestic and imported flavoured water and carbonated drinks.

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Nepal has issued a fresh global tender for excise tax stamps for tobacco, spirits, wine, beer and cider, reports The Kathmandu Post. A tender notice was issued on 14 October and all participants have until 29 November to submit their bids.

One of the largest illegal cigarette factories ever discovered in the Netherlands has been dismantled by law enforcement, with 13 arrests and seizures of 3.6 million cigarettes and 32 tonnes of tobacco.

In October, the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) wrote to Julio Castilla Peláez, President of the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce (CCCR), responding to an article in the La Nación newspaper titled ‘Traders reject attempt to revive plan to label and monitor liquor’.

Ashton Potter, a leading provider of high security printing and forensic traceability technology for the private and public sector, and BostonCIO, a professional services information technology consulting firm, have announced a partnership to integrate their ProLinc® and BostonCOMPLY Practical Compliance Automation™ SaaS solutions.

Two recent articles in this publication specifically caught my eye and set in progress the compilation of this article. The first, ITSA Hits Back Over Tax Stamp Criticism, appeared in the June 2020 edition followed by Blockchain and Excise Supply Chains: Hype, Conjecture and Reality, in July.

When it comes to the effective storage and management of data, it should be recognised that security, flexibility, and efficiency are key. Increasingly, governments, businesses, and organisations around the world are exploring cloud-based computing options as a complement – or alternative – to more traditional, on-premises hardware and software solutions. For tax administrators, the ongoing shift presents both opportunities and unique challenges.

SGS and Purity-IQ Launch New Service to Authenticate Cannabis Products, Kezzler and Trace Announce Blockchain Partnership, Molecular Tags that are Sprayed onto Cannabis Flowers, Oklahoma Announces New Track and Trace Contract with Metrc.

The West African country of Liberia will this year be introducing tax stamps for the first time. In the second quarter of 2020, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) awarded a contract to Madras Security Printers for tax stamps on tobacco products, spirits, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

Writing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new public sector tax stamp programme, or even to update an existing programme, can be a daunting prospect. Where does one start? What has to go into this RFP? How comprehensive does it need to be, and how does one avoid any hint of corruption in the process?

Cigarettes and tobacco products were the most reported counterfeit goods in the UK in 2019/20, according to a survey conducted by the country’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and IP Crime Office.

In the February issue of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™, we launched a series of articles by Chander S Jeena, on the illicit tobacco trade in Southeast Asia and how it is being dealt with. This month we continue the series with an update on the situation in Malaysia.

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has released the annual update of its Illicit Trade Report (ITR). Reports were submitted by 86 countries – up significantly from 54 countries in 2018, making it more representative than previous iterations.

At the end of June, the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) and GS1 India joined forces to, as they describe, take the fight against counterfeiting to the next level in India, with the use of global standards.

Next month, Reconnaissance International will launch the much-awaited third edition of Tax Stamps & Traceability: A Market Analysis and Technical Update – which, since the launch of the first edition back in 2007, has remained the only authoritative report of its kind.

While South Africa battles with booming illicit tobacco and alcohol trade that, according to its revenue service, ‘may or may not require track and trace’, other countries in Africa are moving swiftly ahead with the introduction of secure marking and track and trace systems before the end of this year.