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From Stamps to Systems: Why ITSA Has a New Name
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has adopted a new name that reflects a major shift in the technologies and systems used to control regulated products.
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ITSA Takes Aim at Fake Tax Stamps Sold Online
In today’s hyper-connected global marketplace, fake tax stamps and security markings are made accessible by criminals on non-law-abiding internet platforms, particularly in regions where enforcement is weak and cross-border e-commerce flourishes. While these forged labels are of poor quality, their
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Vapes: Emerging Challenges for Tax Administrations in Latin America
The following was written by ITSA for the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT) and appeared on their website 9 December 2025. The vape market is booming, despite products being banned in most Latin American countries. This creates huge levels of illicit trade and enforcement challenge
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ITSA Raises Concern Over Weakened DPP Provisions
This summer, the draft versions of several European standards for digital product passports (DPPs) were published for public review and enquiry. One of these drafts – prEN 18246:2025 – covers the authentication, reliability and integrity of DPP data, with the aim of minimising product fraud and coun
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ITSA Appoints New Chairman as it Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Following its 7th Annual General Meeting, held in April 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa – on the occasion of the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ – the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new chairman, and the re-election of two directors, as it cele
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ITSA Selected as Liaison Organisation to EU Standards Body
In the February 2024 issue of Tax Stamp & Traceability News™, we described how the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) had submitted recommendations1 for a secure and interoperable implementation of the EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and
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LatAm Tax Authorities Share Updates at ITSA Event
In October, 40 participants turned up for the latest International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) webinar, which was in Spanish only and directed towards tax and customs authorities across Latin America. The webinar provided updates on information presented at ITSA’s in-person seminar in June, in Sant
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The Strength of a ‘Phygital’ Approach
Combining physical and digital elements on tax stamps ensures that the strengths of both are exploited, and the weaknesses of each are covered. The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is pleased to announce the launch of a social media campaign examining the topic in depth, featuring quotes f
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ITSA Seminar for Latin American Tax Authorities – A Review
As has thankfully become a bit of a tradition again, post-COVID, ITSA (International Tax Stamp Association) recently held a pre-conference seminar on the occasion of the High Security Printing™ Latin America conference, which this year took place in Santiago, Chile. With a focus on the importance of
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Fortified Defences: The Power of Combining Physical and Digital Elements in Tax Stamps
In a rapidly evolving excise landscape in which counterfeit goods and tax evasion pose major challenges, the incorporation of both physical and digital elements on tax stamps has emerged as a critical strategy for governments and businesses alike. Leveraging the strengths of traditional physical sec
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Tax Stamp Standard Review Is Underway
ISO 22382:2018, is now due its five- year review, in accordance with ISO procedures (the International Organization for Standards). This review has commenced, click the link below for an article by Ian Lancaster, who is leading the review: Go to website
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ITSA Counters Claim that Tax Stamp-Based Track and Trace Not Compatible with FCTC Protocol
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has responded to a claim by economic advisory firm Oxford Economics (OE) that tax stamp-based track and trace systems are not compatible with the WHO FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, while ‘fully digital’ solutions, based on
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Tobacco Track and Trace in Africa: Separating the Wheat From the Chaff
In a world where tobacco and other excisable goods are exposed to high levels of illicit trade, the role of tax stamp programmes and other countermeasures naturally becomes the subject of debate and scrutiny by stakeholders. When done in a neutral and unbiased way, such debate contributes to enrichi
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2023 – An Exciting Year for Revenue Stamps
By Gerben van Wijk, Chairman, ITSA Although it is impossible to predict the future, it is clear that the industry has a shared expectation for 2023 when it comes to revenue stamps: growth! Over the past years, several case studies have shown that the introduction of a holistic revenue stamp scheme l
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ITSA Appoints New Board and Chairman
Following its 5th Annual General Meeting, held in May 2022 in Malta, during the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum, the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has appointed three directors to its board. Furthermore, ITSA is pleased to announce the appointment of a new chairman. The three directors a
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Corrigendum Note Issued by Itsa
Further to its press release dated January 17th 2022 entitled ‘INTERNATIONAL TAX STAMP ASSOCIATION RAISES CONCERNS OVER ECUADOR’S FISCAL TRACEABILITY MOVE’, the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) would like to issue the following corrigendum upon INEXTO’s request: In Chile, INEXTO’s partner
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ITSA CALLS FOR EU TPD IMPROVEMENTS
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is calling for improvements to a directive that controls the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products in the European Union. ITSA believes that while the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which is currently undergoing a mandatory review
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ITSA in Tax Stamp & Traceability News – October 2021
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is being increasingly recognised by government revenue departments as an authoritative body of experts on tax stamp and traceability solutions for excise products.
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ITSA Welcomes New Member
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is delighted to announce that a new member has joined its ranks as of August 2021: Demax Holograms Plc, headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria. As well as being a leading security printer, Demax Holograms is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of securit
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ITSA Appoints New Board
Following its 4th Annual General Meeting, held in May 2021, the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has appointed four directors to its board. Juan Carlos Yañez Arenas of Thomas Greg & Sons, Gerben van Wijk of Luminescence Sun Chemical Security and Zbigniew Sagan of Advanced Track & Trace, ha
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ITSA in Tobacco Journal International – April 2021
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is urging greater clarity around the definition of the tax stamps used to secure excise revenues from tobacco products.
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ITSA in Tobacco Reporter – April 2021
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is urging greater clarity around the definition of the tax stamps used to secure excise revenues from tobacco products.evices to better protect brands, as well as secure government tax revenues (pages 36 and 38)
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ITSA Calls for Tax Stamp Clarity
The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is urging greater clarity around the definition of the tax stamps used to secure excise revenues from tobacco and alcohol products. The move comes in the wake of the continued misuse of the term ‘tax stamp’ by some sector solution providers, which is ra
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ITSA in Tobacco Reporter – April 2021
Nicola Sudan, ITSA General Secretary, tells Tobacco Reporter how the massive rise in illicit trade during the pandemic is expected to boost demand for security and authentication devices to better protect brands, as well as secure government tax revenues (pages 36 and 38)
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ITSA in Tax Stamp & Traceability News – December 2020
It may not have been like the in-person seminars we’re all accustomed to, or yearning for, but we were very happy to report that the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) webinar for the Latin American region, held on 3 December under the title ‘Illicit Tobacco during Lockdown: Controlling Toba
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ITSA in Scientific Review
Parallel Tobacco Trade during COVID-19: From Learnings to Expectations
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ITSA in Tax Stamp & Traceability News – October 2020
In October, the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) wrote to Julio Castilla Peláez, President of the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce (CCCR), responding to an article in the La Nación newspaper titled ‘Traders reject attempt to revive plan to label and monitor liquor’.
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Tax stamps can boost government finances in post-COVID world
Trade bodies, government officials and NGOs have highlighted the crucial role of tax stamp and traceability programmes in boosting government finances strained by the COVID-19 pandemic. An online webinar held by the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) brought together 160 stakeholders from ar
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ITSA hits back over tax stamp criticism
Amended version of press release dated 22 May 2020, which contained erroneous information. A high-profile trade association has responded to criticism of tax stamps in a new report on the impact of blockchain technology on excise duty payments. The study by Deloitte highlights the potential benefits
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EUCJ rejects legal appeal against Tobacco Products Directive
ITSA has criticised the decision to reject its legal claim against the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), calling it “disappointing and curious”.
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Recruitment campaign aims to stamp out fraudulent trade
Building on its success, ITSA is now looking to widen its membership base to include government authorities, universities, foundations, NGOs and other associations.
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ITSA in Product & Image
Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Recurrence of Alcohol Deaths in Costa Rica
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ITSA in Securing Industry
Further deaths linked to illicit alcohol in Costa Rica – The death toll being attributed to illicit alcohol in Costa Rica continues to rise, reaching 26 at last count, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
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ITSA in Securing Industry
https://www.securingindustry.com/press-releases/tax-stamps-under-the-spotlight-at-international-industry-event/s135/a10592/#.Xst2EJ4zaPT
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ITSA in Tobacco Reporter
Guidelines issued – To encourage compliance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has produced an advisory note that analyses the different stages of a full track and trace system.
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ITSA in Tobacco Reporter
A recent World Bank report outlined a number of key measures that could reduce illicit activity in the trade of tobacco products, including effective systems that can track the secure movement of cigarettes and other items through the supply chain from production or import to point-of-sale.
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ITSA in Professional Security
Excise tax stamps against illicit tobacco – An international conference will showcase excise tax stamps against illicit tobacco trade. The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is hosting a workshop at the High Security Printing conference in San José, Costa Rica from June 3 to 5, to highlight