The global trade in fake goods, from cosmetics to car parts, is costing the UK economy billions of dollars a year in forgone company sales, overpriced products and tax revenues, and was behind more than 86,000 lost jobs in 2016, according to a new OECD report.

Trade in Counterfeit Products and the UK economy  estimates the value of counterfeit and pirated British goods sold worldwide at GBP 16.2 billion in 2016, up from GBP 13.4 billion in 2013 and equivalent to 3.3% of UK manufacturing sales. UK goods particularly targeted by counterfeiters include perfumes, cosmetics, clothing, footwear, leather goods, telecoms equipment, electronic goods, cars and motorbikes. For more click here

Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in partnership with the Global Shippers Forum (GSF), the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), are amplifying their efforts to ensure the safe air transport of lithium batteries. The organizations are also renewing calls for governments to crack down on manufacturers of counterfeit batteries and of mislabeled and non-compliant shipments introduced into the supply chain, by issuing and enforcing criminal sanctions on those responsible. Consumer demand for lithium batteries is growing by 17% annually. With it, the number of incidents involving misdeclared or undeclared lithium batteries has also risen . For more click here

World Wide Fund for Nature  (WWF) Philippines  and UnionBank are collaborating to develop a blockchain-based fish traceability platform. Finnish consulting firm TX and blockchain protocol Streamr will also work on building Tracey, the blockchain app for the fishing sector. There’s a two-pronged approach — facilitating sustainable fishing and providing financial support to the fishers. A recent  Globescan  survey found that 70% of consumers want to know more about the sustainability of the seafood they eat. WWF Australia is working with a unit of Boston Consulting Group on a supply chain blockchain  OpenSC , with a focus on sustainability. The platform has raised  $4 million  in a seed round and partnered with  Nestlé . For more click here

Thailand  cementing its position as a blockchain adopter, with several government agencies launching projects to test the feasibility of the distributed ledger technology. Now, Thailand’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) has announced that it will launch a blockchain traceability solution for agricultural products, starting with a pilot for organic rice, reported  Nation Thailand . Rice tops Thailand’s agricultural commodity exports, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. TPSO director-general Pimchanok Vonkorpon said the project would launch as soon as the department receives the operational budget for fiscal 2020. For more click here

Chinese alchohol wholesaler Oranco has launches blockchain-based anti-counterfeiting laser recognition proprietary technology. Headquartered in Fenyang City, China, Oranco promotes premium alcoholic beverages to China’s population. It currently focuses its business on the sale of Chinese Fenjiu liquor and imported wines. For more click here

TANZANIA Revenue Authority (TRA) has recorded an increase of 34 per cent in excise duty on local and imported spirits and wines between February and October, this year, thanks to the rolling out of the two phases of Electronic Tax Stamp (ETS) management system. According to TRA's Deputy Commissioner General, Mr Msafiri Mbibo, the authority collected 77.8bn/- during the period under review compared to 58.2bn/-which was recorded during the same period last year, translating to an increase of 19.6 per cent. For more click here

India: HP Inc .'s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) program has seized counterfeit products worth ₹800 Million in India in the past one year with Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) leading the chart with products worth ₹330.5 Million. Read more, click here

Rising global demand for ID and packaging security and authentication devices will strengthen the market for holography in 2020, according to the sector’s international trade body. The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) sees continued integration of holograms alongside other authentication and track and trace technologies driving growth in the next 12 months, underpinning moves to support overt and covert protection strategies. Read More

Dotz Nano has raised $2 million through a share placement to venture capital fund Southern Israel Bridging Fund, sophisticated investors and shareholders. Additionally, a total of $1 million has been secured through a deferred share placement with the Southern Israel Bridging Fund (SIBF). "SIBF specialises in assisting companies with unique potential and breakthrough technologies to scale up and reach the next stage of commercialisation," Dotz CEO Uzi Breier said. The funds raised will enable the tracing technology company to execute its commercialisation strategy and target manufacturers and end-customers in the anti-counterfeiting, oil and gas, and product liability sectors. Read More

Pharmaceutical supply chains regularly underperform their counterparts in other industries. Pharma companies require more lead time for manufacturing, utilize less of their production capacity, and carry an unsustainable amount of inventory. By every measure, pharma supply chains could improve—and industry decision-makers have noticed. But driving changes goes beyond the standard call to simply digitize everything. The future of pharma companies depends on their ability to sense potential problems or changing demands in the supply chain and adapt their response. Read More

Counterfeit vaping pods seized from Indiana store : Read more

Manipur plans to legalise cannabis for ‘medicinal and industries’ purposes: Biren Singh : Read more

To Eliminate Fake Cannabis, Solo Science Launches New Authentication System:  Read more

In a 1st, government OKs cannabis research in UP & Uttarakhand

Delhi 3rd largest cannabis consumer in the world, Mumbai 6th: Study

Two men arrested in Tamil Nadu for trying to circulate counterfeit currency notes

FSDA raids warehouse, 720 kg ghee seized for fear of counterfeiting

Counterfeit products of branded companies seized in raids

Counterfeit liquor factory busted, six arrested

Beware of counterfeit: Fake Xiaomi products seized in New Delhi

Counterfeit cases up by 15 percent in 2019: ASPA

3rd edition of The Authentication Forum organised by ASPA and Messe Frankfurt India in New Delhi

Fake note tops list of counterfeit cases in India; these are other most spread duplicate items in market

CII Packaging Summit, December 18, 2019, New Delhi

Optical Document Security, January 29-31, 2020, San Francisco, USA

World Banknote Summit, February 24-26, 2020, Prague, Czech Republic

Identity Week Asia, September 1-2, 2020, Singapore

Tax Stamp Forum, October 19-20, Georgia