A new initiative aimed at tackling the problem of counterfeiting in the maritime sector, has been welcomed by the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA).
The industry trade body says the new Know Your Customer (KYC) Best Practices through the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) heralds a significant step forward in the battle to thwart the volume of counterfeits shipped around the world.
The KYC lays down a voluntary framework of steps maritime companies can take to ensure they know even more about who is shipping products on their vessels. It launched at an annual conference for container shipping and international logistics hosted by the Journal of Commerce (JOC) on March 7 in Long Beach, California.
All those involved in the global supply chain, including brand owners, vessel operators, freight shipping companies and trade authorities, will benefit from an initiative that tackles the ‘massive’ global counterfeiting issue, says the IHMA. The initiative also highlights the measures that can be taken to deal with the problem, which can include increasing adoption of track and trace systems featuring hologram technologies.
Manoj Kochar, chair of the IHMA, said counterfeiting is a big problem for the shipping industry, but the KYC can be seen as step in the right direction in stemming the impact and securing global jobs. He said: “This so-called historic ‘Declaration of Intent to stop the Maritime transport of counterfeits’ is a further reminder that the war on counterfeiting remains far from won, and global brands and profits need to be protected. Global brand owners and maritime companies will see off the back of this latest initiative how relatively low cost yet effective hologram technologies can be of benefit.
“When included as part of a supply chain track and trace system, for example, holograms are to the fore as weapons in tackling counterfeiting and securing authentication.”
Increasing adoption of holography reinforces the technology’s position as a pre-eminent security feature in the anti-counterfeiting fight, the IHMA adds. The use of well-designed and properly deployed authentication solutions, as advocated in the ISO12931 standard enables examiners to verify the authenticity of a legitimate product, differentiating it from the counterfeits in the market, according to the association.
Even those that carry a ‘fake’ authentication feature can be distinguished from the genuine item if that item carries thought-out authentication. Visit www.ihma.org.
Background
The DOI (Declaration of Intent) is a voluntary and non-binding statement developed and first signed in November 2016 by ICC’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) member-companies, vessels operators, and freight forwarders. The Principles of the Declaration include a zero-tolerance policy towards counterfeiting, as well as supporting strict supply chain controls, risk profiling and due diligence checks to ensure maritime operators are not inadvertently co-operating with those involved with counterfeiting.
