Food Authenticity Network launched a resource base for food fraud
UK: To minimize the food fraud impact during Covid-19, food experts have come together to share best practices and working. Food Authenticity Network Advisory Board had a meeting earlier this month and, given the disruption to global supply chains caused by COVID-19 and the diminished level of surveillance, they reported they believes a rise in food fraud is likely. Multiple packages with counterfeit food supplements were seized during a recent investigation in the EU, according to Europol. The parcels came from Brazil, China and Hong Kong, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom. They were falsely declared as confectionery or a specific or generically-named dietary supplement. The Food Authenticity Network has launched a resource base for food fraud on its website pulling together global information to help combat threats to the supply chain because of the global pandemic. For more, visit http://www.foodauthenticity.uk/covid-19

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ASPA: Tips to identify genuine liquor
In the interest of consumer protection, ASPA releases tips to identify genuine liquor . Liquor products have always been on higher priority for counterfeiters. We have noticed that during the COVID-19 lockdown there has been a spike in crimes related to liquor, making excise officials busy preventing illicit liquor trade. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the problem has further aggravated due to a gap in demand and supply. In last one month, almost every day a seizure had been reported in India related to smuggled or illicit liquor.

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Gartner, Inc. has announced the rankings of its annual Supply Chain Top 25 ,  a list compiled to identify supply chain leaders and their most impressive practices. "In our 16th edition of the Supply Chain Top 25 we have an impressive group of leaders with new lessons to share, including a diverse set of six new entrants," said Mike Griswold, vice president analyst with the Gartner Supply Chain practice. Cisco Systems has been ranked at number one in the report, with Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson & Johnsons, Schneider Electric and Nestlé following. Lenovo, AbbVie, British American Tobacco, Reckitt Benckiser, Biogen and Kimberley Clark were all new additions to this year’s report. The Supply Chain Top 25 offer a platform for insights, learning, debate and contributions to the rising influence of supply chain practices on the global economy.”
Ukraine to follow EU model for medicine traceability
Ukraine’s  long-planned  traceability system for medicines will be closely aligned with the EU system, according to a senior lawmaker. Writing for the Interfax news agency, the chair of Ukraine’s Committee on National Health – Mykhailo Radutskyi – says the intention is still to start a pilot serialization programme on November 1 of this year, with a short roll-out to mandatory implementation a year later. For more, click here
AIM Selected as International Registration Authority for RFID Tag ID Numbers
AIM, the trade group for the automatic identification industry, has been designated as the International Registration Authority (RA) for the ISO/IEC 15963 Standard “Information technology – Radio frequency identification for item management Unique identification for RF tags” by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In this capacity, AIM will be responsible for handling all aspects of the registration, issuance and tracking of Issuing Codes related to ISO/IEC 15963.
Covid Panedmic: Mactac unveil hotel security seals
Helping to improve traveler safety,  Mactac has launched hotel security seals . Intended for adhesion to the outside of hotel room doors, the security closure labels are designed to create a temporary seal between door and door frame. The security seal is placed following the cleaning of a hotel room, indicating to future guests that a room hasn’t been accessed since it was cleaned and sanitized. Proprietary research from Hilton reveals that three of the top four actions a hotel can take to make guests feel safe are centered on additional cleaning. The international hotel chain recently announced its implementation of the Hilton CleanStay Room Seal.
Smartrac partners with Suku to authenticate Covid-19 test kits
Smartrac, an Avery Dennison company, and blockchain startup Suku , have joined hands to develop a digital verification technology to authenticate Covid-19 testing kits and personal protective equipment to enable instant verification and provide end-to-end supply chain transparency.
USTR releases annual special 301 report
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released its annual Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of trading partners’ protection of intellectual property rights and the findings of its Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (the Review), which highlights online and physical markets that reportedly engage in and facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.
Click here  to read the 2020 Special 301 public hearing transcript.
Click here  to view the video recording of the 2020 Special 301 public hearing.
To read the Special 301 Report, click here . 
Tax Stamps
  • India: Uttar Pradesh Excise Department invites request for proposal for selection of system integrator for development and maintenance of integrated excise supply chain management system for the Uttar Pradesh excise department. Deadline: 10 Jun 2020
  • India: Tripura State Excise Department invite bid for Production and supply of polyester based tamper evident security hologram labels. Deadline: 20 June 2020
Traceability
  • Kenya: Crops and Dairy Market Systems invite Expression of Interest for System Improvement and Development of the National Horticultural Traceability System. Deadline: 12 Jun 2020
  • Namibia, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform invite bid for the Livestock Identification And Traceability System. Deadline: 25 Jun 2020
Hologram
  • India - Delhi Transport Infrastructure Corporation Ltd invite bid for Printing & Supply of holograms for pollution under control certificate. Deadline: 20 June 2020
Tamper Evident Labels
  • India: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas have invited tender for 35 million tamper evident seals for LPG cylinders. Deadline: 03-09 June 2020
  • Czech Republic: Fakultni Nemocnice Brno invites tender for labels for descriptions of medicinal products. Deadline: 15 June 2020
  • April 2020: USA, Florida heat applied cigarette tax stamps
  • Jan 2020: Georgia, Tobacco tax stamps
  • Oct 2019: Rwanda, Supply of tax stamps to be fixed on alcohol and cigarettes
  • Sep 2019: Nepal, Tax stamps
  • July 2019: Malta, Supply of banderols for wine certification
  • April 2019: USA, Cigarette revenue stamps for the comptroller of Maryland
  • July 2018: Canada, Excise tax stamps
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COVID 19 & Counterfeiting
Tobacco & Alcohol
Chemical & Fertilizers
Banknotes & Documents
Health & Pharmaceuticals
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Inside this issue;
  • Cover story - Food Quality & Safety
  • COVID-19 & Counterfeiting
  • Russia project Chestny ZNAK
  • ASPA urge Indian Government to implement tobacco tax stamps (FCTC Protocol)
  • ASPA urges govt to implement track and trace as part of CSR activity of drug firms
  • China infant formula traceability project mini program
  • ASPA western regional chapter initiated