International Tax Stamp Association formed

Ten companies have formed the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) in order ‘to respond to the need for better understanding of the benefits of excise tax stamps and tax stamp technologies, as well as to promote high professional standards in this sector,’ according to an ITSA press note.

The founder companies, which are said to be leaders in document and product authentication and traceability, are: Advanced Track and Trace, Ashton Potter Security Printers, Chanwanich Security Printing, Holoflex, Hologram Industries, Holostik India, Manipal Technologies, OpSec Security, SICPA and Thomas Greg & Sons de Colombia.

‘The main purpose of ITSA is to provide a collective voice for the industry, advocating the benefits of tax stamps, educating customs and revenue agencies on how they can better secure excise revenues (from, mainly, tobacco and alcohol), sharing best practice, and contributing to the development of the new ISO standard [ISO 19998 standard for tax stamps],’ the press note said in part.

‘Following the formal signing of the articles creating the association, the founder members elected a five-member board of directors. They are Michel Mariton of Hologram Industries, Zbiegnew of Advanced Track & Trace, Manoj Kochar of Holoflex, Christine Macqueen of SICPA and Juan Yanzez of Thomas Greg & Sons de Colombia, who was elected chairman…

‘Reconnaissance International has been formally appointed as the Secretariat. Nicola Sudan of Reconnaissance will be the Secretary General.

‘Membership of ITSA is open to legally incorporated companies and businesses that supply tax stamp components and features, as well as finished tax stamps, equipment for stamp design, manufacture, application and authentication, and systems for coding and marking stamps.’