TSTF Brochure 2025

7–9 APRIL 2025 Cape Town, South Africa The only global event to focus on strategic and practical solutions to protect government revenues and combat the illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol and other excise products. taxstamptraceabilityforum.com

“Very informative and useful conference. I received a lot of very useful and valuable information about tax stamps and traceability. Thank you!.”

Georgia Revenue Service

Welcome We are delighted to be holding the 2025 Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa Recently voted best city in the world by Time Out, Cape Town combines stunning natural beauty with a vibrant culture and diverse culinary delights. There’s nothing quite like it!

As far as the conference is concerned, we have some interesting topics lined up: The revised ISO tax stamp standard is in its final stages of preparation, and Project Leader Ian Lancaster will host an interactive workshop on the improvements made to the standard and how you can implement them.

Our plenary sessions will include the following topics and speakers: › The University of Cape Town’s Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products will present two papers: an updated simulation model for estimating the breakeven cost of implementing tobacco track and trace in South Africa, and an evaluation of track and trace compliance in Pakistan.

bars used in the construction industry. › On the digital technologies side, SICPA will describe how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to increase compliance and revenue collection, Quantum Base will look at leveraging quantum mechanics for unique tax stamp fingerprints, and Digimarc will speak about transforming tax stamp security with game-changing digital technologies. › On the physical security side, the International Optical Technologies Association will explore what’s next for optically variable features as they relate to tax stamps. › Francis Tuffy of Reconnaissance will lead a panel discussion on the digital/physical debate in the face of threats from AI and quantum computing.

See you soon in Cape Town!

› Hana Ross of World Bank Group will discuss strategies to control inputs into excisable products, with a focus on raw tobacco markets. › OpSec Security and Luminescence Sun Chemical Security will look at protecting government revenues in sectors not normally associated with tax stamps and track and trace: namely homologated communication products and reinforcing

Nicola Sudan, Conference Director

Who Should Attend Governments

Tax Stamp Providers

Revenue agencies and issuing authorities

Tax stamp system and equipment manufacturers

Customs and excise officials

Security printers and integrators

Regulators/Enforcement

Suppliers

Law enforcement agencies

Labelling companies and packaging converters

Investigative services

Suppliers of security substrates, authentication and serialisation technologies

Tobacco and alcohol regulators

Other

Industries

Anti-counterfeiting and IP organisations

Manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers of tobacco, alcohol and other excise products

Academics

Who Attended in 2023 192 delegates from 103 organisations and 37 countries attended the Tax Stamp Forum in Georgia.

North America

Latin America

Tax Stamp Producers/Printers

2%

18%

4%

Customs and Revenue Agencies

Africa 35%

37%

Europe

42%

31% 4%

Suppliers 10%

Other

Manufacturers/ Distributors

2%

Asia/Pacific CIS

10 Reasons to Attend 1

103

Discover new ways to protect excise revenue and stop counterfeit and diverted goods

2

See which methods can make protecting excise revenues more effective

3

Meet 200 professionals to share best practice from around the world

4

Better understand the drivers behind global trends in illicit trade

5

Listen to the challenges faced by tax authorities

15%

organisations

and learn from practical examples 6

Hear about the latest track-and-trace and verification methods

7

Talk with specialist suppliers and compare authentication technologies

8

Enhance your practical knowledge with our professional development workshops

9

Make new contacts from right across the industry

10 Ask experts for advice in lively panel discussions

37 countries

192 delegates

8 April 2025

Session 1: Welcome and Overview Welcome and Forum Overview Nicola Sudan, Reconnaissance International (UK)

The Global Landscape Nicola Sudan, International Tax Stamp Association (UK)

How Much to Pay for a Track and Trace System: An Updated Simulation Model for South Africa Kirsten van der Zee, Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products – University of Cape Town (South Africa)

Controlling Inputs into Production of Excisable Products Hana Ross, World Bank Group (USA)

Session 2: Country and Market Cases 1 Expanding Horizons: Protecting Consumers and Government Revenues from Illicit Trade in New Emerging Sectors OpSec Security (USA/UK)

Improved Tax Collection and Traceability of Critical Components for the Construction Industry Stefaan D’Hoore, Luminescence Sun Chemical Security (UK)

Evaluating Compliance with Track and Trace and Other Regulations in Pakistan’s Cigarette Market Estelle Dauchy, Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products – University of Cape Town (South Africa)

How Track and Trace has been Made Controversial in Pakistan, and the Way Forward Aftab Baloch, Former Advisor – Federal Board of Revenue (Pakistan)

Session 3: Panel Discussion 1 Integrating Excise Systems into a Comprehensive eGovernance Platform This panel discussion looks at the move by some governments to integrate their excise systems into a comprehensive eGovernance platform that brings together multiple services under one roof. However, while some countries are moving ahead with this, others continue to keep their excise systems in a silo, away from other tax systems. Why is this? And how should solution providers be helping to change this situation?

Session 4: Technologies 1 – AI, Quantum Mechanics and Digital Using Artificial Intelligence to Increase Compliance and Revenue Collection Ruggero Milanese, SICPA (Switzerland)

Leveraging Quantum Mechanics for Unique Tax Stamp Fingerprints Quantum Base (UK)

Outsmarting Counterfeiters: Transforming Tax Stamp Security with Game-Changing Digital Technologies Judy Moon, Digimarc Corporation (USA)

Future-Proofing Tax Stamps: Using Physical Features in SoftwareSupported Authentication and Data Management Thomas Brücklmeier and Benno Schmitzer, LEONHARD KURZ (Germany)

Alternatives for Printing Tax Stamps Barna Barabas, JURA Security Printing (Hungary)

What’s Next for Optically Variable Features?

Chander S Jeena, International Optical Technologies Association (UK)

Session 6: Panel Discussion 2 The Digital/Physical Debate in the Face of Threats from AI and Quantum Computing

Session 7: Country and Market Cases 2 The Vaping – and Illicit Vaping – Boom

9 April 2025

Session 5: Technologies 2 – Physical with Digital

Sven Bergmann (virtual), Venture Global (USA)

Traceability Success Stories: It’s Not Just About Revenue Francisco Mandiola, FMA SECURE (Chile)

ment Govern ates delegd for atten This programme is provisional and subject to modification.

The latest version can be found at taxstamptraceabilityforum.com

FREE

Platinum

Our Sponsors Madras Security Printers Madras Security Printers is a 31 year old company well equipped with the advanced facilities of global standards with accreditations from global authorities for the manufacturing process.

Silver

Gold

www.madrassecurityprinters.com

Specialist Supplier Exhibitions

HP Indigo Secure

Learn about our exhibitors at www.taxstampforum.com

Workshop

Social Events

ISO 22382 for Tax Stamps: Implementing the Revised Standard

Venue

7 April 2025

The venue for the 2025 Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ is the Westin Cape Town, located at the gateway to the V&A Waterfront, and offering breathtaking views of Table Mountain, the city skyline, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Chaired by Ian Lancaster, Project Leader Come to this workshop to learn about improvements in the revised international tax stamp standard and how you can implement it.

The International Organization for Standards published its guidance standard for tax stamps (full title: Guidelines for the content, security, issuance and examination of excise tax stamps) in 2018.

It is ISO practice to review standards every five years, and when this one was reviewed in 2023 it was agreed that a) it is a valuable standard, but b) it needed updating.

So for the last couple of years that updating review has been taking place, through a small drafting group of experts, chaired by Ian Lancaster as Project Leader, with support and input from the International Tax Stamp Association.

At the time of writing, the draft revised standard is going through the ISO committee approval processes, which should see the updated standard published in the first half of 2026.

Welcome Cocktail Reception – sponsored by SICPA On Monday 7 April we host the welcome cocktail and exhibition opening with our sponsors and exhibitors presenting the latest developments in tax stamp and track and trace technologies in a relaxed atmosphere.

Gala Dinner at GOLD Restaurant – sponsored by Madras Security Printers Located in the heart of Cape Town, GOLD Restaurant provides an authentic African experience that goes beyond dining. On Tuesday 8 April, GOLD will take you on an immersive journey through African culture, featuring a 14-dish ‘taste safari’ paired with traditional Mali puppets and vibrant entertainment. The dress code for the evening will be casual.

At this workshop, Ian will explain the main revisions to the standard, then in small group discussions you be able to see for yourself some of those changes and to work with others to consider what they mean for you.

If you work in a tax authority – which is who the standard is for – you will be able to discuss with likeminded people the suitability of those changes and how you could start to implement the standard’s recommendations in your workplace.

If you are a producer of tax stamps, or a component or consumables supplier, then you will also be discussing with others how these improvements impact you and your relationship with tax authority customers.

Examples of improvements in the standard include an expanded section on the function of tax stamps and a new annexe on assessing the efficacy and suitability of authentication features – both in response to suggestions during the review stakeholder consultation.

Another important change is removing ‘excise’ from the standard’s title, on the grounds that the range of directly taxed goods has expanded significantly, so that it is no longer only excisable goods that have a tax stamp.

Come to this workshop to learn more about these and other changes and to explore how you and your organisation can follow the recommendations in this standard.

This event will be useful for both tax stamp issuers and suppliers.

REGISTER ONLINE

taxstamptraceabilityforum.com

© GOLD Restaurant.

Exhibition Closing and Farewell Cocktail On Wednesday 9 April we host the exhibition closing and farewell cocktail with the final chance to spend time with our sponsors and exhibitors showcasing the latest developments in tax stamp and track and trace technologies.

“Excellent tax stamp topics and speakers and well moderated.”

De La Rue

Useful Information Registration

Here to Help

To be part of Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ 2025, go to taxstamptraceabilityforum.com to book online.

If you have any questions about the conference, contact the conference team:

Fees

Nicola Sudan, Conference Director Weronika Komorowska, Conference Manager

£2,350 Standard delegate

Pre-Conference Workshop Fee £350 Governments and International Tax Stamp Association members: Free of charge

Discounts and Concessions Government representatives: Free of charge The first two representatives from government revenue, customs and enforcement agencies can attend for free; additional delegates from the same organisation:

£1,200 State enterprise subsidiaries: £1,650 Tax Stamp & Traceability News subscribers: £2,200 International Tax Stamp Association members: £1,900 Tax Stamp & Traceability News™ is the monthly newsletter for specifiers, users and suppliers of tax stamp programmes.

Subscribers qualify for a 10% discount when registering for the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum. To become a subscriber, visit taxstamptraceabilitynews.com Fees do not include travel, visas, accommodation or accompanying spouse or social partner fees for the cocktails/dinner.

Travel and Accommodation Delegates are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation. Details of special booking rates and how to make your hotel reservation can be found at taxstamptraceabilityforum.com under the venue page.

Tel: +44 (0)1932 785 680 Email: events@recon-intl.com reconnaissance.net

Tel: +44 (0)1932 785 680 Fax: +44 (0)1932 780 790 Email: events@recon-intl.com

Other Information Conference Language: The conference will be conducted in English.

Your Conference Organiser: The event is organised

by Reconnaissance International, the leading source of business intelligence and services, for sectors with security, authentication and trust at their core. Visit reconnaissance.net Release: The organisers accept no liability for personal injury or any loss of or damage to delegates’ personal effects. We reserve the right to cancel, modify or postpone the event without prior notice and to refuse admission to any person (with payments refunded).

Terms and Conditions: Visit reconnaissance. net/terms for full terms and conditions.