Indian Govt's new proposal: Manufacturer to pay penalty for entire batch if single drug found substandard
Even if a single drug in a batch is found substandard the manufacturer may have to pay a penalty equal to the MRP of the entire batch shipped, according to a new government proposal. There are usually 10,00 to one lakh units in a batch, but the number of drugs - which can be in the form of tablets or liquid - in a batch vary depending on the size of the shipment, a  Health Ministry official said. According to the new provision, the manufacturer will be liable to pay an amount equal to the MRP of the entire shipment as penalty if any unit is found substandard or damaged, he said. The new provision, proposed by the  Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for addition in the existing  Drug and Cosmetics Act , will apply even if the packaging is faulty, the official added. 
Ghana to opt traceability to combat fertilizer smuggling
The Ghana, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has introduced a new system in a bid to monitor the fertilizer subsidy program and farming inputs given to farmers. The new service requires every farmer who wants to benefit from the subsidy have to be bio-metrically registered but farmers who have already registered can purchase the fertilizer. Before any purchase is made an agent at the retail shop would take the fingerprint of the farmer and match it with the code on the bag of the fertilizer. The code identifies the region, district, fertilizer type, source, distributor and details of the retailer. It will be able to track all fertilizer bags and inputs from suppliers all the way to end user which is the farmer. The new technology is expected to eliminate fertilizer smuggling in the country. The system will ensure that subsidized fertilizers would now have a special code like the tax stamp introduced by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). This traceability technique is the most affordable off-net and real-time technology that is expected to improve the service and deliver value for money.
Arjowiggins Security Goes into Liquidation
One of the banknote industry’s oldest companies, Arjowiggins Security, has gone into liquidation, within one year of being sold by its then owners, Sequana, to the Swiss-based investment fund Blue Motion Technologies. The company had supplied banknote and security paper for over 200 years, and – with references in 140 countries – was one of the leading paper suppliers. Indeed, until the sale of its SALTO paper mill in Brazil to Fedrigoni in 2015, and its VHP paper mill in the Netherlands to Oberthur Fidicuaire in 2017, it was the industry’s largest standalone paper maker.
WAEMU reviewing tobacco traceability
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) has invited an tender for studying the definition of a traceability device for tobacco products and the modalities of its
financing in UEMOA Member States. The member states includes Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Bissau Guinea and Ivory Cost. WAEMU is the sub-region in Africa where cigarettes are the most affordable in price. All WAEMU countries are Parties to the WHO FCTC and working on tax reforms including setting up a product traceability system through the introduction of tax stamps or electronic tracking of goods in transit in order to reduce the risk of illicit trade.
Document Security Systems (DSS) acquire Chinese Tech firm to expand presence in Asia
DSS announced its expansion into the Asian market with the opening of a technology development, customer support and product sales office in Guangzhou, China. As part of the expansion, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary DSS Asia Ltd. has acquired all the outstanding shares of Guangzhou HotApp Technology Ltd., a software development company based in Guangzhou, China. The acquisition provides DSS Asia with the valuable licenses that are required and critical to operating within the Chinese marketplace. 
Machine for Sales
The Korea Minting & Security Corporation had invited tender for Flatbed printing machine (for security printing) purchase of one meal (emergency notification) .

One Indian companies has invited RFP for sale of Security Hologram Plant. The machines include:
  1. Embossing Machine’s - 2 No’s
  2. Coating / Laminating Machine - 2 No’s
  3. Electro Forming Tank (Hard & Soft) - 1 Set
  4. Recombination Machine - 1 No
  5. Die Cutting Machine - 1 No
  6. Laser Engraving Machine - 1 No
  7. Inkjet Numbering Machine - 1 No
For more details, contact ASPA office at vikram@aspaglobal.com.
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Industry Events
Latest Tender Alert
1. TAX & FINANCE, NYS DEPT, invite tenders for Cigarette Tax Stamps Manufacturing Solution
Deadline: Mar 07, 2019

2. SPMCIL invite Expression of Interest (EOI) for supply of Track and Trace system/technology for paper mills and print works
Deadline: March 14, 2019

3 Bank Note Paper Mill India Pvt Ltd invites PQB from eligible and resourceful manufacturers of 1.4 mm wide Security Thread having Polyester vacuum metalized, machine readable windowed magnetic security thread (generic) having de-metalized clear text with fluorescent colour and suitable adhesive for window application.
Deadline: February 07, 2019