anticounterfeit

Anticounterfeit refers to the set of activities, methods, and technologies used to prevent the production, distribution, or sale of counterfeit goods and fraudulent documents. The aim is to protect consumers, brands, public health, and government resources, and to preserve the integrity of supply chains across industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, cosmetics, luxury goods, and automotive parts.

Common approaches include product authentication features (holograms, microtext, UV inks), serialization and track-and-trace, tamper-evident packaging, and digital verification through apps or websites. Modern systems may combine physical security with digital technologies such as RFID or NFC tags, QR codes, cryptographic seals, and blockchain-based provenance to verify authenticity throughout a product’s life cycle. Verification by consumers, retailers, and inspectors, together with enforcement action, is essential.

Implementation involves secure design practices, supplier qualification, packaging controls, and ongoing monitoring of markets for counterfeit activity. Standards and guidelines from international bodies, including ISO standards on anti-counterfeiting and supply-chain security, support benchmarking and interoperability. Despite advances, anticounterfeit measures face challenges from sophisticated counterfeit networks and global trade, and may raise concerns about cost, privacy, and accessibility. Ongoing research emphasizes risk-based deployment and user-friendly verification to maintain trust in products and brands.