Every year, about 130 billion cigarette tax stamps and 14 billion alcohol stamps are used in more than 80 countries. The combined forces of population and consumption growth continue to push these figures up, but other factors in the growth of tax stamps include their adoption by new countries, and the extension of existing stamp programmes to new products. What's more, over the last few years, many stamps have metamorphosed from traditional, paper labels with simple (or no) security features, to high-security authentication devices with integrated track and trace technology.  

So says the soon-to-be-published "Tax Stamps: A Technical Study and Market Report", which examines the current and future global tax stamp environment, while zooming in on specific countries and regions. It has been researched and compiled by Reconnaissance International, specialists in market intelligence for tax stamps via the Tax Stamp Forum and Tax Stamp News.

A record 230 delegates from 36 countries proved, yet again, that tax stamps are of global interest. The 3rd Tax Stamp Forum was held in Washington DC from September 12-14, and covered all aspects of the role of tax stamps in the collection of excise duties on tobacco and alcoholic beverages. It included a two day conference, a workshop on tax stamp security and an exhibition, and one of the marked characteristics, compared with the event's two predecessors, is how a common vision for tax stamp solutions is slowly beginning to emerge among the different stakeholders.

The second Product Authentication & Security Summit (PASS) will take place in Shanghai, China, February 29 to March 2, 2012 and proposals for papers are invited.

Reconnaissance International and BASCAP/ICC have joined forces to launch an online brand and product protection directory for users of authentication technologies.