The International Tax Stamp Association

We are ITSA, a non-profit providing insights into tax stamps and their technology. Follow us for the latest news and to engage with the tax stamp community.

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Rising cigarette tax levels and prices have driven smuggling to become a persistent, nationwide issue in the US, according to a new US Tax Foundation report, but some states question its findings.
https://t.co/OGosiRCQ3U

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Enforcement authorities have taken down a criminal group operating an intricate cigarette trafficking scheme spanning several EU countries, intercepting millions of counterfeit cigarettes worth an estimated €13 million in the process.

https://t.co/CWVc30EuJ5

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Washington—the first US state to approve recreational marijuana use alongside Colorado—still lacks a system for properly tracking cannabis from production through processing to retail sale.

https://t.co/q9LMSX8v8K

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Stay ahead in excise, security and anti-illicit trade developments with Tax Stamp & Traceability News: your hub for insights, tech and analysis, worldwide. 🌍Subscribe now: https://t.co/NGSXiZAKgv

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Unique QR codes are coming to Thailand’s cigarettes as part of a new initiative by the nation’s Excise Department. The system will assign QR codes and serial numbers to each pack, allowing consumers to access detailed product information.

https://t.co/mUJYbqigeb

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

To protect users and legitimate businesses, best practice is to combine physical and digital security features that can be verified in different ways.

https://t.co/doy5XQ3i43

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

The UK government has announced a new excise duty on vaping products for 2026, but there will be no accompanying track and trace system, despite one already existing for traditional tobacco products in the country.

https://t.co/3O6KNG4L15

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

We recently interviewed @EDGYN_eu, a leading provider of brand protection and government revenue technologies. Find out what it has to say about current asks from brand owners and governments, sustainability, trends arising in 2025, blockchain and more!

https://t.co/AljTv4naUZ

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Two tankers carrying smuggled fuel worth over $343,000 were confiscated by the Philippines Bureau of Customs in Navotas City last September. One month later, another tanker was caught transferring smuggled fuel into four lorries at the Port of Batangas.

https://t.co/3X4z0Qb5gF

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

The third Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard has been published, and it paints a damning picture of too little progress from governments and—in many cases—backward slides.

https://t.co/23gSOSWpS1

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Looking ahead to 2025 trends in the tax stamp and traceability space, Thomas Brücklmeier of @LEONHARD_KURZ predicts physical security features will continue to be a crucial complement to digital.

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

There is a massive illicit market in vapor products, primarily originating in China and selling in the US. Despite being banned in both countries, brands such as Elf Bar and Lost Mary continue to circulate, and they’re carrying fake authentication labels.
https://t.co/gpHE3if7Bs

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Reflecting on 2024, our editor identifies the year’s key developments, covering mergers and acquisitions, growth in illicit vapes, integration of tax stamps into wider e-governance programmes and a greater focus on sustainability in tax stamp programmes.

https://t.co/BOvszkgwQh

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Chile’s tobacco traceability system has uncovered illegal manufacture of cigarettes by an officially authorised producer based in Santiago thanks to alerts raised by illicit use of the manufacturer’s production line.

https://t.co/uCRewqU4v8

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

🔒 Unlock the future of revenue protection in 2025!
Stay ahead of illicit trade, excise management, and security innovations with Tax Stamp & Traceability News—your go-to resource for insights, tech updates, and expert analysis.
🌍 Subscribe today: https://t.co/NGSXiZAKgv

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Ukraine’s tax stamps are going digital with eExcise! New, secure tax stamps will offer scannable codes will ensure transparency, linking tax payments to product details like origin, manufacturer, and status.

https://t.co/25zek5uLhT

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

India is the world’s largest liquor tax stamp market, making its trends particularly interesting. This year, they include sustainable stamps, phygital—combining digital and physical features—digitisation, track and trace and more. https://t.co/rZB3tQb6Ma

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Ronnachai Kongbooma, CEO of Chanwanich Security Printing, explains the advantages of integrating ‘phygital’ features in tax stamp design.

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Retailers, not consumers, are driving counterfeit brands, leveraging brand reputations and promises of low prices to attract buyers. What can be done to combat this? Check out insights and recommendations from the experts at Brand Monitor.

https://t.co/5cLT8rAIAu

[The International Tax Stamp Association @TaxStamp]

Does South Africa lack the will to tackle illicit tobacco? With 60% of stores selling below-tax products and new players joining the illicit trade, the problem persists post-2020 sales ban. Here's why efforts fall short: https://t.co/GkZp7TdwE3