ASPA Weekly Alert: Nepal Govt planning to establish its own security printing press

Nepal Govt planning to establish its own security printing press

To control outflow of funds in security printing, the government is planning to establish its own security printing press at a cost of Rs 22 billion in Hetauda,” Revenue Secretary Sishir Dhungana said, adding, “A budget of Rs six billion has been allocated in the current fiscal year and process of setting up the press is underway.” The government generates revenue of around Rs 57 billion from excise duty, value added tax and health hazard tax imposed on cigarettes, liquor and alcoholic beverage per year. It is to be noted that recently the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Federal Parliament directed the government to pave the way for private domestic firms to supply excise duty stickers to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). For more, click here

EU publishes first 'Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List'

The European Commission has published its long-awaited Counterfeit and Piracy Watch-List. This list names both online and physical marketplaces that are reported to engage in counterfeiting and piracy. It focuses on marketplaces located outside the European Union and is intended to encourage operators, local enforcement and governments to take action. A further aim is to raise awareness amongst EU citizens of the risks of purchasing from these marketplaces.

The Watch-List is based on information reported in the course of a public consultation process and is divided into the following areas: websites providing copyright-protected content, e-commerce platforms, online pharmacies and physical marketplaces. It is not exhaustive and does not purport to make findings of legal violations.

The EUIPO, through the Observatory, has supported the creation of the Watch-List with a number of its studies as well as by providing technical support. The Commission is planning to update the Watch-List regularly and monitor any measures taken in relation to the marketplaces listed in it.

The complete Watch-List can be found here:

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2018/december/tradoc_157564.pdf

Mexico, Counterfeit Drug Supply estimated at 20%

The Partnership for Safe Medicines’ (PSM) Board President Marv Shepherd, who is also a leading authority on the sale of prescription drugs in Mexico, warned that counterfeit drugs are an issue in that country, with the Mexican government estimating that up to 20 percent of drugs in that country are fake.

Latest issue of The Authentication Times is out now

The latest issue of THE AUTHENTICATION TIMES out now dedicated to importance of design in authentication industry.

Designing a consumer product, with a specific set of functions (authentication) to perform is very challenging, especially when it comes to banknotes, product authentication and brand protection, the consumer experience is everything. In an era of consumer empowerment, the importance of design have increase manifold. While designing any banknote, selection of security features also play an important role. The issue also addressed the usage of Holograms, optically variable devices (OVDs), diffractive optically variable devices (DOVDs), diffractive foil features (DFF) or diffractive optically variable image devices (DOVIDs) as important security features on banknotes. For more click here