“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.
› 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
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!
Nicola Sudan, Conference Director
Who Should Attend
Governments
Revenue agencies and issuing authorities
Customs and excise officials
Regulators/Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies
Investigative services
Tobacco and alcohol regulators
Industries
Manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers of tobacco, alcohol and other excise products
Tax Stamp Providers
Tax stamp system and equipment manufacturers
Security printers and integrators
Suppliers
Labelling companies and packaging converters
Suppliers of security substrates, authentication and serialisation technologies
Other
Anti-counterfeiting and IP organisations
Academics
Who Attended in 2023
192 delegates from 103 organisations and 37 countries attended the Tax Stamp Forum in Georgia.
10 Reasons to Attend
1
2
3
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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
103 organisations
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)
Session 5: Technologies 2 – Physical with Digital
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
Sven Bergmann (virtual), Venture Global (USA)
Traceability Success Stories: It’s Not Just About Revenue
Francisco Mandiola, FMA SECURE (Chile)
This programme is provisional and subject to modification. The latest version can be found at taxstamptraceabilityforum.com
Madras Security Printers
Madras
Workshop
ISO 22382 for Tax Stamps: Implementing the Revised Standard
7 April 2025
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.
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.
Social Events
Venue
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.
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.
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.
© GOLD Restaurant.
“Excellent tax stamp topics and speakers and well moderated.”
De La Rue
Useful Information Registration
To be part of Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™ 2025, go to taxstamptraceabilityforum.com to book online.
Fees
£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.
Here to Help
If you have any questions about the conference, contact the conference team:
Nicola Sudan, Conference Director
Weronika Komorowska, Conference Manager
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.
Tel: +44 (0)1932 785 680
Email: events@recon-intl.com reconnaissance.net
