The application of holograms in national initiatives continues to deliver benefits for authorities looking to secure tax revenues. Indeed, the technology remains a steadfast weapon in the frontline battle against counterfeiters and fraudsters, protecting products right across the supply chain as part of effective authentication programmes.
We are seeing innovative technologies and processes helping holograms reach out into all sectors and applications where counterfeiting is an issue, broadening their appeal and securing new markets.
For example, they are playing an integral part in helping authorities in India tackle the dark underbelly of the illegal alcohol trade, where authentication procedures may not be as strenuous as in other parts of the world.
The excise department in Rajasthan has issued orders stating that retailers must no longer accept stocks of liquor in the state that do not feature holographic labels. The initiative aims to curtail illicit alcohol sales which are hitting the coffers of the regional exchequer hard.
Implementation of the system will enable the Rajasthan excise department to track and trace each bottle and case of liquor from the distillery, through the distribution warehouse, to the retailer.
Track-n-trace
As the system is rolled out over the next few months, distilleries and breweries will generate printed barcodes that contain unique serial numbers and information about the batch number along with production and expiry dates.
Readers on the manufacturing line will record the exact number of bottles being produced, while barcodes on each bottle and box will be scanned before stock is dispatched on trucks affixed with RFID tags. In addition to the barcode, each bottle will have a digitally secured hologram attached.
Retailers will be provided with point-of-sale machines for reading the barcodes and generating customer bills to enable a track and trace mechanism, which will follow the beverage from the manufacturer to the final POS and confirm its authenticity to consumers.
The use of authentication solutions, as advocated by the ISO12931 standard, enables examiners to verify the authenticity of a legitimate product, differentiating it from fake products coming from counterfeiting hot spots in Asia and eastern Europe.
Even those that carry a ‘fake’ authentication feature can be distinguished from the genuine item if that item carries a carefully thought-out authentication solution.
The capacity for holography to incorporate other data forms and recognition information continues to grow in importance, but for now it is clear the technology demonstrates an ability to thwart criminal activity and secure tax revenues in challenging and difficult to monitor sectors.
With advancements in technology and widening applications, there’s no reason why technology should not continue to play a critical part in the on-going battle to remain one step of ahead of the counterfeiters.
The International Hologram Manufacturers’ Association (www.ihma.org) is made up of more than 80% of the world’s leading hologram companies. Members include the leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world.
The IHMA actively cooperates to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.
Courtesy: Holography News
