Nepal to invest Rs 6 billion in setting up its own security printing firm

In an move to self reliance, the Govt of Nepal had signed an agreement with French firm "INGROUPE" to establish its own security printing facility. The facility will help Nepal print its passports, currency notes, smart cards & other items saving billions of spending annually. ASPA reported this news in its newsletter dated, December 2018 first time about Nepal establishing its own security printing firm . Nepal has already allocated a budget of Rs 6 billion in current fiscal year.

According to officials "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. 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).

Ireland to outsource its euro banknote production

The board of the Central Bank is to consider a recommendation from management to cease printing euro notes at its mint in Sandyford, Co Dublin. A spokesperson for the Central Bank said: "The proposal from management involves sourcing the banknotes from within the Eurozone, and ceasing the printing of banknotes at the Central Bank’s Currency Centre. "This proposal is in line with the approach taken in many other national central banks in the Eurozone." For more click here

Australia reveals its new polymer $20 bank note

Next generation of Australian banknotes: New $20 footage

The Reserve Bank of Australia has unveiled a new $20 note, to be released into circulation in October. Improved security and ease of recognition are important characteristics of the new $20 banknote. The same innovative security features from the previously released $5, $10 and $50 banknotes have been incorporated to help keep them secure from counterfeiting," RBA governor Philip Lowe said. A new $100 bill is expected to be issued next year.

West Bengal Govt. creates its own Revenue Intelligence to tackle tax evasion

In a bid to tackle the menace of tax evasion and leakage of state revenue in an efficient manner, the West Bengal government has created its own new Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Enforcement (DRI&E). "A new Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Enforcement under the Finance Department has been created for a comprehensive approach to investigation and enforcement of tax laws for tackling the menace of tax evasion and leakage of state revenue in a more efficient and effective manner," the official said. The state government has been considering restructuring the indirect tax administration to counter revenue leakage and tax evasion through intensive and broad-based investigation and enforcement with multifaceted approach. For more click here

Member's News

Shriram Veritech acquire EzzyCheck Software

De La Rue wins £3.5m UK tobacco traceability contract

Pragati Offset opt for Sergusa print inspection system

Kezzler targets 6 billion connected products in 2019

Uflex Honoured with ‘Excellence in Packaging –Beverages’ at The ET Polymers Awards 2019

Wonder Pac India installs Jetsci Colornovo

NeuroTags Selected by The Kind Pen as Its Anti-Counterfeiting Solution Provider

Madras Security Printers Wins 5 Awards in “National Awards for Excellence in Printing” from AIFMP

Regulatory updates

EU Tobacco Products Directive - By 20 May 2019 – ie. in less than three months’ time – 28 EU member states must be ready to go live with 28 national traceability and security feature systems

Substandard Thyronorm-75 and Dynapar Gel batches face recall

The regulator latest alert lists a total of 45 batches of drugs, ranging from painkiller paracetamol to a batch of diabetes drig glimepiride.

FDA looks to pilot projects to enhance pharma track-and-trace

European Commission Press Release - Falsified medicines: new rules to enhance patients' safety

WHO & FAO push to improve Food safety and trade

FICCI organize Roundtable on Supporting Farmers with Quality Crop Protection Products

Ghana introduced the new electronic coding and traceability in a bid to monitor government’s fertiliser subsidy programme and farming inputs

Counterfeit this week

Fake Amla hair oil recovered, one arrested

Large amount of fake tea and oil recovered

Fake medicine seized in Patna, Bihar

Fake tobacco (Beeri) seized in Muradabad, Uttar Pradesh

Amazon acknowledges counterfeits in its annual report

Fake detergent powder factory seized

For more news visit Counterfeit Repository

ASPA in News

IRCTC food on trains to have bar codes, ASPA urge to integrate with physical authentication solutions

Lack of regulations, apathy blamed for hooch tragedies

Replacing Holographic Stamp In Liquor With Barcoded Stamps Can Be Easily Counterfeited: ASPA

ASPA & IPAMA organize workshop on Integration of Authentication Solutions at PrintPack2019

Upcoming Industry Webinar & Events

HP Brand Protection Event, March 21-22, Singapore

High Security Printing EMEA , March 25-27, 2019, Malta

Digital Document Securit , May 13-15, 2019, Berlin, Germany

Tax Stamp Forum , September 11-13, Budapest, Hungary

Pesticides Manufacturers Association (PMFAI) Annual Conference, Nov 14-15, New Delhi

Latest Tender Alert

1. South African Revenue Service invited RFP for provision of production management & track & trace solution for cigarettes, Deadline: 02 Apr 2019

2. State of Missouri invited tender for Cigarette Tax Stamps, Deadline: 04 Apr 2019

3. The West African Economic and Monetary Union invited EoI for the Study of the establishment of a Traceability System Tobacco Products, Deadline March 28, 2019