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.

The programme for the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ (TSTF) is busy taking shape, with the call for papers deadline coming up at the end of May.

We continue our series of interviews with members of the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA), by talking with Gábor Zsámboki from ANY Security Printing in Hungary.

Tobacco stakeholders and the European Commission disagree over the practical value of the EU track and trace system on tobacco products, implemented across all member states in May 2019 as part of the Tobacco Products Directive, reports EURACTIV.

This article explores the concepts and current thinking related to AI and the author has a chat with AI to find out what AI ‘thinks’ about tax stamps.

The Switzerland-based Thymaris group is a second-generation family business that has been operating since 2000. The business provides integrated authentication technologies (software and machines) on a global scale. Its mission is to close the security gap in existing barcode serialisation infrastructures.

At its recent conference held in April, the US Tax Foundation, which is the nation’s leading independent body on tax policy, presented research on some of the most pressing issues in global taxation, including global minimum tax, carbon tax, and excise tax.

This month, we continue our series of interviews with members of the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA), who share their experiences of the tax stamp industry and look ahead to some of the challenges and opportunities yet to come.

This article represents the first in a series that aims to educate readers on the dynamic nature of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) and key issues that need addressing, as well as, ideally, offer a means by which suppliers of secure track and trace technologies can address this heretofore untapped potential new market.

De La Rue has announced the multi-year extension of tax stamp/security seal contracts across nine countries in Europe and Africa.

In January, more than 60 officers from the French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) raided a location in France, which was found to be an underground factory for counterfeit tobacco. The investigation was initiated as a result of information shared with France by Europol at the end of 2022.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon was guest of honour at the recent launch of a countrywide authentication and traceability programme to combat tobacco illicit trade and promote economic reform.

Every year, on 24 February, India observes Central Excise Day, as a way of highlighting the essential role of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in the country’s industrial development.

This month, we continue our series of interviews with members of the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA), who share their experiences of the tax stamp industry and look ahead to some of the challenges and opportunities yet to come.

In September this year, Reconnaissance International will release a new publication – ‘Smartphones for Authentication’ – the only publication of its kind.

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

In India, each state has the power to control and regulate its own liquor trade. Given that the country comprises 29 states and seven union territories, each with their own set of laws, this presents a major challenge for the alcoholic beverage industry – a challenge that is further exacerbated by the limitations placed on the movement of alcohol between states.

The Gambia’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, in partnership with the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), has signed a concession agreement with SICPA for the implementation of a revenue mobilisation platform for excisable goods, telecommunication services, and refined fuels.

This short series on emerging technologies was a result of presentations made at the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ (TSTF), in May 2022. This final article in the series picks up on one theme not yet covered – the topic of substrates. But first we should consider why this debate should be defined as an emerging technology.

We are pleased to announce that this year’s Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ will take place from 2-4 October 2023, in the wonderful city of Tbilisi, Georgia.