Commercial holograms remain in wide use as an effective authentication device as part of global tobacco tax stamp programs, says Dr. Paul Dunn, chairman of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association.
Currently, more than 150 billion tax stamps, in the form of securely affixed labels, are issued annually by hundreds of provincial and national revenue agencies around the world, indicating that governments and law enforcement continue to see their value as central features ineffective revenue gathering strategies.
The latest estimated figures show that the holographic tax stamp market is worth over US$100 million with cigarettes - due to the sheer volume of consumption - accounting for most of the overall value. While holographic tax stamps are widely accepted and effective authentication devices, there is no better opportunity for governments to continue to act decisively to boost excise revenue from growing tobacco through continuing to use the technology as an integral part of their strategies.