Businesses have ‘crucial role’ in fighting counterfeiting

The Coalition Against Illicit Trade (CAIT) has published a white paper calling for businesses and public authorities to do more to tackle counterfeiting.

In Governance and Data Management for Cross-Border Tracking Tracing and Authentication Systems, the coalition says tracking, tracing an authenticating systems must be further optimised by legislators.

The group says businesses and public authorities have a “crucial role” to play in defeating illicit trade, and that standards can be “easily integrated” into business operations.

CAIT also states that anti-counterfeiting systems will only be effective if they work with others around the world and are adhered to by all industry stakeholders, from manufacturers to retailers.

According to European Commission findings, 40 million suspect products – such as spirits and tobacco – were detained at the EU’s external borders with a total value of €650 million (about US$700m). In addition to lost tax revenues, counterfeiting can put dangerous goods in consumer hands and fund organised crime or terrorism.

“We are proud to support the Coalition Against Illicit Trade and to have contributed to this second white paper,” said Thomas Gering, CAIT member and president of the board at Nano4U.

“As legislatures across the globe look at fighting the issue of smuggled and counterfeited goods they must see the value that comes from effectively partnering with industry.

“We, along with other members of CAIT, are continually developing our technology to most effectively help business and public authorities to fight the criminal perpetrators of the illicit trade.

“Regulatory standards should enable rather than hinder innovation and open market competition among service providers. We hope this paper best explains the drivers for the adoption of technical standards that match business and public policy needs.”

Last year a UK scheme to crackdown on the availability of illicit alcohol by conducting rigorous checks on wholesale traders was delayed due to “technical issues”.