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The two-day event highlighted the urgent need to safeguard the integrity of India’s industries from the menace of counterfeiting
In a major push to protect India’s industries, stakeholders at the 6th edition of the Traceability and Authentication Forum (TAF 2025) called for stricter anti-counterfeiting laws and advanced traceability measures. Organised by the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA), the two-day event highlighted the urgent need to safeguard the integrity of India’s industries from the menace of counterfeiting, which affects both domestic markets and exports.
Industry experts noted that counterfeit products, mislabeled goods, and fraudulent certifications pose a serious risk to India’s reputation, both in domestic markets and internationally. Fake products not only compromise safety but also diminish consumer trust, potentially leading to stricter trade restrictions from global partners. The need for stringent policies, real-time tracking systems, and industry-wide collaboration was echoed by attendees. Experts emphasised the importance of adopting blockchain-enabled traceability solutions and AI-driven authentication systems to monitor supply chains and detect fraud in real-time. However, they also stressed that India must act and evolve with these technologies, particularly in rural areas where authentication practices still rely on traditional methods, such as identifying products by colour. In this context, physical overt packaging should also be a key part of the solution, ensuring authenticity is clear and accessible to all consumers, regardless of their location or technological access.
Addressing the forum, Abhishek Dev, IAS & Chairman of the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), acknowledged the valuable work done by ASPA in combating the growing threat of counterfeit products.
“Counterfeiting is a pervasive issue impacting various sectors, including agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and consumer goods. It not only threatens consumer safety but also undermines India’s trade credibility. APEDA appreciates the valuable insights provided in the ASPA-CRISIL report launched in 2022, which highlighted the significant impact of counterfeiting across industries. Reports like these are crucial for the industry, and there is a need for more such studies to help guide efforts to address this challenge. APEDA encourages further collaboration and development of such solutions, as data-driven insights are essential for the industry’s response.”