ASPA OFFERED AFFORDABLE ANTI-COUNTERFEITING SOLUTIONS TO SECURE “MADE IN INDIA PRODUCTS” IN THE INTEREST OF CONSUMER, BRAND AND REVENUE PROTECTION

Panaji, 11th September, 2015: TheAuthentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA)is world first and only self-regulated non-profit organization that represents the entire authentication solutions industry globally. Today, ASPA members offered various affordable anti-counterfeiting solutions to secure “Made in Indiaproducts”in the interest of consumer, brand and revenue protection. Today, its members companies are already protecting more than 10,000 brands across globally.

On the occasion Mr. U.K. Gupta, President, ASPA said, “We welcome the initiative of Government of India and the campaign “Made in India”. Today, “Made in India” product have great opportunity in India and overseas market. However, with the increase of counterfeiting in various sectors, there is a constant need to ensure that these “Made in India” label product are of highest quality, genuine and secured till its deliver to the end consumer. We offer the various authentication solutions which will ensure that “Made in India” label product are of highest quality and can be easily identified as genuine products by brand owners, Government authorities and consumer by large with the help of IT and digital solutions such as mobile app, SMS and web based applications. Further, the adoption of authentication solutions will help these sectors in combating counterfeiting and ensuring the high revenue growth which will contribute to the country economy”.

He further added, “For example, the most successful case study is of usage of authentication solutions by various State Excise Department’s which provides them an authentic tool to differentiate illicit liquor and helps in fighting against counterfeiting. In India, more than 22 States are already using approximately 2000 crores security hologram (tax stamps) on liquor bottles per annum. The usage of authentication solutions in these States like Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh etc. etc. has not only minimized the tragedies due to spurious liquor but have also substantially increased the excise revenue collection by more than 15-20 percent on year to year basis”.

States such as Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand which are not using any authentication solutions till date are also considering to use such solutions to increase their excise revenue and to curb the menace of illicit liquor. It will also help these states in curbing the inter-state smuggling of liquor which happens due to difference excise duties rates. According to Excise Minister of Maharashtra the usage of security hologram will likely earn the State INR 1400 crore in additional revenue.

On the occasion, Mr. Nakul Pasricha, Vice President, ASPA stated, “There are various affordable authentication solutions available. For example drug counterfeiting can be fight by putting unique, random, alphanumeric codes onto each individual blister pack, bottle or injectable vial. Over 1200 crore products (i.e. one for every Indian citizen) have been already protected to date through this technology, with close to 50 companies in India and other countries having already adopted the solution. With regulations being adopted by most Governments, including India (as mentioned above), such solutions that incorporate unique identification of products with verification, and add a layer of track-and-trace, will be required in order to meet the regulatory demands and also protect consumer’s life without comprising with their health”.

The India industries are badly affected and the high menace of counterfeit is not only bothering Government, Brand Owners but also have high life threat to the end consumer. According to sources the impact in various sectors like: - FMCG Packaged Goods loss to the industries was 20,378crores in year 2011-12 have increased to 21,957crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 7 %. In FMCG Personal Goods loss to the industries was 15035 crores in year 2011-12 have increased to 19,243 crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 28%. In Mobile Phone Industry the loss was 9,042 crores in years 2011-12 have increased to 19,066 crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 111 %. In Alcoholic Beverages Industry the loss was 5,626 crores in year 2011-12 have increased to 14,140 crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 151%. In Tobacco Industry the loss was 8,965 crores in year 2011-12 have increased to 13,130 crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 46 %. In Auto Components Industry the loss was 9,198 crores in year 2011-12 have increased to 10,501 crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 14 %. In Computer Hardware Industry the loss was 4,725croresin year 2011-12 have increased to 7,344 crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 55 %. Overall the loss to the above mention industry was 72,969croresin year 2011-12 have increased to 105,381crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 44%.

Similarly the above mentioned industries the India Government incuse the loss of 26,190 crores in year 2011-12 have increased to 39,239 crores in 2013-14 which is the growth of 49.8%in two years.The matter is so serious that if no immediate measures are taken than counterfeit market size will in next 5 years will grow to beyond imagination and will be a very substantial loss to the Indian Government, Industry and may impact the health of the consumers as well as their belief in “Made in India Products”.

ANNEXURE FOR HANDY REFERENCE

Fig1: Loss of Sale to Industries 2013-14 (INR billion)
Industry / F.Y. 2013-14 / F.Y. 2011-12
FMCG Packaged Goods / 219.57 / 203.78
FMCG Personal Goods / 192.43 / 150.35
Mobile Phones / 190.66 / 90.42
Alcoholic Beverages / 141.40 / 56.26
Tobacco / 131.30 / 89.65
Auto Components / 105.01 / 91.98
Computer Hardware / 73.44 / 47.25
Total Loss / ₹ 1,053.81 / ₹ 729.69

Source: FICCI Cascade Report

About ASPA

TheAuthentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA)is a self-regulated, non-profit organization of authentication solution providers. Founded in 1998 asHologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI), it has now been revamped in 2014 as ASPA to more accurately represent the transformation of products and services offered by its existing member companies. The broader scope of ASPA also covers a wide array of other technologies that have evolved over the years. As the world’s first and only industry body of its kind, ASPA aims to comprehensively covers the interests of the entire authentication solutions industry worldwide, including, but not limited to, holograms, optically variable devices (OVD’s), taggants, security inks and substrates, watermarks, nanotechnologies, RFIDs, barcode / QR code-based digital tracking and verification solutions, security and tamper-evident labels and any other brand protection and authentication solutions. ASPA works closely with global authorities such as International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), Counterfeit Intelligence Bureau (CIB) and Interpol. ASPA members protect over 10,000 brands worldwide through the identification of genuine products and documents.

For more information please contact:-

Sanjiv SinghC.S. Jeena

PR MantraSecretary, ASPA

+91 9818430943+91 9818971116

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