Countering the counterfeiters with secure technology

摘要

Counterfeit cigarettes are a big problem. It is conservatively estimated that the illegal market is worth many millions of UK pounds. Counterfeit products undermine brand integrity and directly affect tobacco industry profits; the manufacturers have ahuge interest in trying to curb this market. In 2006 cigarette consumption was estimated by the Tobacco Manufacturers Association (TMA) in the UK to be GBP 67.5 billion (USD 133-3 billion) - GBP 49 billion UK duty paid plusGPB 18.5 billion non-UK duty paid. Around 3 per cent (2 billion cigarettes)of the total was estimated to be counterfeit. In 2005/06, 51 per cent of illegalcigarettes seized by Customs were counterfeit. Most of these counterfeit cigarettes are manufactured in the Far East and eastern Europe and are smuggled into the UK in large quantities, predominantly as maritime freight. It is what happens next Which causes Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) the most worry (this is why the duty paid seal was introduced). Though the smugglerscan get the cigarettes into the UK, how can they distribute them? The obviousanswers in the past has been by selling in car boot sales, or as 'job lots' to customers in a bar or anywhere known collectively as the grey market - even on the street. However, HMRC are now increasingly seeing counterfeit cigarettes offered for sale through legitimate retail outlets.