The IHMA’s Ian Lancaster says the new Specialist Printing Equipment and Materials (Offences) Act is as a positive move at a time when ID document forgery is on the rise
The Specialist Printing Equipment and Materials (Offences) Act will ensure that production of holograms and passports are protected.
The International Hologram Manufacturers’ Association (IHMA) reported on the new legislation in England and Wales, which will act as a “significant step forward” in protecting the production of “genuine security devices”, including holograms, ID cards, passports, banknotes and tickets. The legislation comes into force in May, and will make it illegal to “supply specialist printing equipment knowing that it will be used for criminal purposes”.
The law will cover “both equipment and consumables”, and so will apply to manufacturing equipment as well as the finished products. The IHMA noted that the “investigation and prosecution of criminal activity will be more straightforward” under the new laws, with those found guilty fined and or imprisoned for up 10 years, and the legislation brings both England and Wales “in line” with US law.
The IHMA added that the legislation is “another sobering reminder that the war on counterfeiting continues to be fought”, and will be a “welcome boost for those desperate to protect brands and profits from the multi-billion dollar trade in counterfeit goods”. It also noted that the use of “well-designed and properly deployed” authentication solutions allows for differentiation of legitimate products “from the counterfeits coming out of China”, as in the printer cartridge industry.
It mentioned that “even those that carry a ‘fake’ authentication feature” are able to be distinguished “from the genuine item if that item carries a carefully thought-out authentication solution”.
Ian Lancaster, General Secretary of the IHMA, stated: “The Act will be very welcome, and has to be seen as a positive move to support governments and industry in their fight against crime and terrorism at a time when ID document forgery is on the rise. This will also benefit brand owners tackling the problem of counterfeiting, because they will be reassured that they will be using holograms supplied from bonafide sources as part of brand protection strategies.
“Remember that criminal counterfeiters have no scruples about who they supply – ID counterfeiters or brand counterfeiters, it’s all the same to them. Holography continues to play a key role as a highly effective, extremely flexible weapon in the ongoing battle to thwart counterfeiters and fraudsters. All involved in the supply chain will be reassured by the presence of holograms on products and recognise the benefits they provide.”