Holographic features have long played a vital role in optical document security—grabbing attention, signaling authenticity, and giving visual verification. But as design trends shift and digital solutions take a larger role, it’s time to reassess their impact.

Crane NXT has announced the formation of a new business unit called 'Crane Authentication' within its recently established Security and Authentication Technologies segment. This move comes as part of its completion of the acquisition of De La Rue Authentication Solutions, which it made in October 2024 for £300 million.

While pharmaceutical packaging safeguards, such as barcodes, QR codes, and serialization, are now standard requirements under regulations like the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) and US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), these measures have proven ineffective in preventing counterfeiting, if used alone.

India has recently rolled back key measures for pharmaceutical traceability – possibly due to the increasingly widespread copying of genuine QR codes onto counterfeit drugs.

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) achieved record revenue in 2024, continuing its growth trajectory.

Merck, a leading science and technology company, has partnered with Zebra Technologies, a global leader in digitising and automating frontline workflows, to create solutions that address product verification, authenticity, and trust challenges.

As overt security technologies (OST) evolve beyond traditional holography, Dr Mark Deakes, chair of the International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA), considers integrated optical solutions taking centre stage. These OSTs are becoming vital to banknotes, identity security, product authentication and brand protection – offering robust, sustainable defences against the growing threat of illicit activities.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2025 report, ‘Country Experiences on Implementation of Traceability for Medical Products’, highlights the uneven progress in global traceability efforts for medicines and vaccines. Drawing on survey responses from WHO member states, the report cites insufficient technological knowledge and capabilities as the biggest barriers to implementing traceability systems.

A scientific report appearing in nature. com1 introduces a novel, non-cloneable, chipless RFID tag, created out of the cork of a bottle, for authenticating the wine, liquor, oil, or other liquid product contained in that bottle.

LEONHARD KURZ, a global player in security and surface finishing technologies, has announced the integration of its subsidiary SCRIBOS, a digital platform provider, under a new unified brand identity—KURZ SCRIBOS.

As sustainability gains momentum, recycling alone is no longer enough. The circular economy promotes reuse, repair, and recycling to reduce waste and keep resources in use longer. But as recycled products go mainstream, challenges arise – especially the risk of greenwashing and fake or mislabelled goods claiming to be eco-friendly.

UK-based chip company Pragmatic Semiconductor has announced the launch of its latest radio frequency identification (RFID) near-field communication (NFC) product line, Pragmatic NFC Connect.

At the recent World Money Fair (WMF), Germania Mint unveiled a special release coin featuring Black Light Colours technology.

Registration is now open for the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference, which will be held in Warsaw from 15-17 September 2025.

Europol’s EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU- SOCTA) 20251, published in March, reveals how the very DNA of crime is shifting – adapting to a world shaped by global instability, digitalisation and emerging technologies, and no longer bound by traditional structures.

With more than 700 years of history, the Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda (INCM) – also known as the Portuguese mint and national press – is committed to enhancing its role as a progressive, globally engaged organisation through a strategic focus on innovation, collaboration, and expansion. Its recent initiatives and partnerships demonstrate a strong dedication to providing high-security, technology-driven solutions for both domestic and international markets.

In the February 2024 edition of Authentication & Brand News™, we examined how David Beckham, the celebrated former England footballer, was intensifying efforts against counterfeit manufacturers illicitly selling fake products – including clothing and fragrances – under his brand. This article looks at the latest organisations to have adopted near-field communication (NFC) technology for authenticating sporting apparel and memorabilia.

At the beginning of 2024, All4Labels, one of the world’s largest label manufacturers, launched a subsidiary called Integritag, as part of its expansion into brand protection and smart packaging.

A new method for combating whisky refill fraud has been developed by combining molecular science with blockchain technology.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has completed two pilot projects to test its ‘Authentic View’ blockchain infrastructure, which is designed to combat counterfeiting.

François-Charles Oberthur group, a global leader in banknote printing, security solutions and technologies, has partnered with Giriraj Foils, a well-respected name in India's high-security films, stamping foils and laminates, to deliver advanced authentication solutions tailored for the Indian market.

The Authentication Solution Providers' Association (ASPA) hosted the sixth edition of the Traceability and Authentication Forum in New Delhi on March 17-18. The event emphasised the need for stronger anti-counterfeiting laws and an increased use of authentication and traceability tools.

Located in Lancaster University, UK, Quantum Base (QB) has announced its intention to list on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market in April 2025. The company aims to raise between £3 million and £5 million through a placing and retail offer to support product development and commercial expansion, joining the growing number of quantum technology companies advancing their authentication solutions.

As Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, puts it, 'Your smartphone is now your passport, your bank, and your key to the digital world', There is no doubt about its increasing usage in our lives. In the authentication industry, smartphones are also important in facilitating the digital authentication of banknotes, identity and tax stamps. The authentication industry integrates digital security features that link high-security printing with the digital world. This article explores several recent innovations.

At the recent High Security Printing™ EMEA conference in Basel, Switzerland, Dr Alexander Brannan from the University of Manchester, and Gary Spinks of Security Fibres UK, presented advances in colour-changing smart materials designed for rapid authentication. This technology addresses key issues in anticounterfeiting by integrating academic research with industrial application.

Researchers in China have developed a non-petroleum film for packaging applications that can extend the shelf life of foods, show when spoilage has occurred, and has fluorescent properties that could be used as an anticounterfeit feature.

Anti-Counterfeiting News, Product Protection News, Brand Protection News… these were some of the titles that we dreamed up when we decided to launch Reconnaissance’s second newsletter, as our first, Holography News®, was increasingly reporting the security uses of holograms.

If you have ever lived in or visited China, you will undoubtedly be familiar with the iconic Moutai brand. However, outside of China, it remains largely unknown. Still, in 2024, Moutai’s brand value rose to $50.1 billion, making it the world’s most valuable spirit for the ninth consecutive year, according to Brand Finance.

Crane NXT has secured its first micro- optics contract through the OpSec Security channel with a luxury perfume brand.

With sales of vinyl records rocketing in recent years, it was inevitable that counterfeiters would enter the market to try to make a fast buck – and a recently published US patent describes one way to fight back, reports SecuringIndustry.com

The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has been approved as a liaison organisation to the CEN- CENELEC technical committee responsible for developing EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) standards.

In a LinkedIn post, Luminescence Sun Chemical Security (LSCS) has announced it is a major contributor to protecting the revenue of Türkiye’s deposit return scheme (DRS) on single-use beverage containers, through its security solutions and the logistical support of Sun Chemical Türkiye.

The programme for this year’s Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ (from 7-9 April in Cape Town, South Africa) has been released, with some important themes on the agenda. This article describes some of these themes, which will be presented as workshops, standalone papers or panel discussions.

After years of inconsistent demand, Applied DNA Sciences (ADNAS) has decided to discontinue its DNA tagging and security services business. This decision is part of a broader restructuring effort that includes a 20% reduction in workforce, mainly in the DNA tagging segment.

Marked by key acquisitions - 2024 will be remembered for significant consolidation in the authentication industry (see ABN, Nov 2024). While mergers and acquisitions are good for growth, so are technical collaboration and partnerships combining and complementing each other's expertise to create more substantial authentication features, technologies, and systems. The article views recent developments in this light.

The US Postal Service (USPS) has introduced a newly redesigned money order with a red, white, and blue colour palette and enhanced security features.

Being unique is something we value in people, products, and even security. When something is so unique that it can’t be copied, it becomes a powerful tool to fight counterfeiting. Researchers are now creating unclonable patterns – designs that in theory can’t be reproduced – to protect products and prove they’re genuine.

In April 2024, China’s National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) launched a pilot programme to implement a ‘unique electronic ID’ code on drugs and medical consumables, enabling comprehensive traceability across the supply chain.

There is a common belief that traceability solutions alone will eliminate counterfeiting and simplify product authentication. However, while item-level traceability enhances product transparency, the most commonly adopted technologies come with vulnerabilities, especially in terms of authentication.

This article looks at the newly created, massive illicit market in vapor products originating mainly from China and sold in the United States. Despite being banned in both countries, brands like Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Lost Mary continue to circulate. What’s more, they carry authentication labels that falsely suggest legitimacy, further exacerbating illicit trade.

At the recent CES 2025 consumer electronics event in Las Vegas, two companies, Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Linxens, unveiled their new smart label solutions, marking a significant advance in brand protection and supply chain integrity.

International security technology group Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has launched the G+D Smart Label, a second-generation tracking solution that transforms any package into an IoT (Internet of Things) device.

As the new year begins, it’s an ideal time to look at forthcoming events in authentication, security printing, tax stamps, and brand protection.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has released its 2024 Review of Notorious Markets, highlighting the global online and physical markets for trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.

John Anderson, Chairman of the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group until last year, died in early January after a difficult illness.