In the US Applied DNA Sciences, a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication, of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting and product authentication, has entered into an agreement and started working with Supima. That’s a non-profit trade association of the American Pima cotton growers. The work is based on use of APDN’s New SigNature T platform to mark, identify, and protect US-grown American Pima, a luxury cotton fibre, from counterfeiting and blending.
Work has already begun on the effort, starting on November 18, 2013, with the SigNature T marking of millions of kilograms (kgs) of cotton at a major cotton grower. The work should continue to the end of February, with nearly 50 million kgs of American Pima or Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton.
The non-profit Supima body is composed of Pima growers from the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Supima strives to assure its member companies and consumers that cotton with the registered trademark Supima® label is geniune. Users of the Supima brand name must be licensed for the use of that name; authentication of the SigNature T mark in the downstream processes will prevent counterfeits and blended cotton from being sold as genuine Supima products.
Now that the work of protecting some of the American Pima raw cotton fiber by applying the Signature T mark has commenced, users of American Pima will start to be able to prove its identity and originality using a forensic lab test. The marker has been tested and proven to resist all manner of washings, chemical treatments, heat, dying, and other threats. It is a permanent, unique and uncopyable marker of authenticity for Supima.
Over 350-fine count textile mills, manufacturers and retailers from around the world are licensed to use the Supima brand. Authentication can potentially be performed at any of these textile mills, manufacturers and retailers globally.
Said Jesse Curlee, President of Supima: “We are determined to protect our brand from cotton purveyors who sell inferior and diluted goods, illegally using the Supima brand. This is the finest cotton in the world, and we are excited to help APDN blaze the trail in protecting luxury cotton from counterfeiting.”
