A trade body for the hologram industry has welcomed a United Nations report that reaffirms the technology’s role in anti-counterfeiting.
The UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) research report ‘Ensuring Supply Chain Security: The Role of Anti-Counterfeiting Technologies’ reflects the agency’s ‘first effort’ in analysing the impact of anti-counterfeiting technologies on government initiatives to secure legitimate product supply chains. It acknowledges how technologies such as holograms remain important weapons in tackling counterfeiting and securing product authentication in global supply chains.
The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) says the report is a reminder that the war on counterfeiting remains far from won and is another ‘timely’ wake-up call for those desperate to protect brands and profits around the world.
IHMA general secretary Dr Mark Deakes, said: “This is important and timely insight, which throws the spotlight on the massive issue of counterfeiting. It reminds us of the need for continued investment in technologies and added value track and trace solutions if counterfeiting in global hotspots such as China, India, and Eastern Europe are ever to be checked, let alone stopped. Brand owners and those authorities responsible for legislation will also welcome this report.
“More needs to be done – and quickly – to begin to deal with the problem and this might include increased integration of holograms as part of brand protection strategies.”
Increasing adoption of holography reinforces the technology’s position as a pre-eminent security feature in the global anti-counterfeiting fight. Security holograms on items like liquor bottles, tobacco and luxury merchandise can confirm quality and lead to illicit items being seized and destroyed, the trade group adds.
“Holography has a key role as a highly effective, highly flexible weapon in the ongoing battle to thwart counterfeiters and fraudsters,” Deakes said.
“All involved in the supply chain – manufacturers, distributors, consumers, tax authorities – will be reassured by the presence of holograms on products and recognise the benefits they provide.”
The use of well-designed and properly deployed authentication solutions, as advocated in ISO’s 12931 standard, on authentication solutions, enables examiners to verify the authenticity of a legitimate product, differentiating it from the counterfeits coming out of China. 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 IHMA is made up of 100 hologram companies. Members include producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications.
The UN report is available at http://www.unicri.it/topics/counterfeiting/anticounterfeiting_technologies/Ensuring_supply_chain_security_report.pdf.
