governmentFebruary 2, 2021 FBI Warns of COVID Vaccine Fraud The FBI is concerned about recent fraudulent schemes revolving around vaccine distribution. Over 100 cases of COVID-related fraud have been prosecuted and numbers are expected to rise as vaccine distribution continues. Learn More
governmentApril 14, 2020 Stamps Making A Comeback Amid essential businesses open during the COVID-19 pandemic is the United States Postal Service (USPS) which is experiencing potential operating difficulties due to lower cash flow. The pandemic has led to a significant drop in first-class letters and promotional mailers with many businesses grinding to a halt. In response, people are buying stamps online as a way to help the institution. Learn More
governmentMarch 4, 2020 New Bill Could Make E-Commerce Companies Liable for Counterfeits The bipartisan act titled “Shop Safe Act of 2020” was revealed this week and it targets e-commerce companies like Amazon and eBay to keep counterfeits off their platforms. The act outlines a series of steps and guidelines that these online companies must conform to or otherwise be held liable for any knock-off items sold on their behalf. Proposed actions include government identification of third-party sellers along with proof of authenticity from these sellers. The act comes as a response to the rise of counterfeit goods, which has amounted to over 3% of all global trade. Learn More
governmentFebruary 10, 2020 Executive Order Targets Online Counterfeit Goods On January 31, 2020 President Trumped passed Executive Order 13904 which targets the online sale of Counterfeit goods and sets policies and procedures for United States Customs to effectively deter counterfeits from entering the Market. President Trump stated counterfeit goods “are threatening both the public health and safety as well as the national security.” The entire order spans across multiple industries from Intellectual property to pharmaceuticals but specifically targets the online availability and E-Commerce platforms. The government has 60 days to allocate resources to maintain implementation. Learn More
governmentNovember 11, 2019 Department of Defense Stresses Supply Chain Security The DoD Inspector General has placed Supply Chain Management on his annual list of management challenges for the Pentagon. Where he stresses the importance of maintaining a supply chain to not only distribute goods but to maintain a limited supply, remote transportation, and overall readiness for service members. The article states, “The DoD supply chain has faced longstanding problems, such as limited sources of supply, and challenges in distributing and transporting goods to remote locations”, stressing the importance of running a detailed, secure supply chain. Learn More
governmentSeptember 23, 2019 Senior Vice President at Ashton Potter Appointed to ITSA Kelly M. Smith, Senior Vice President at Ashton Potter, has been appointed to the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA). This not-for-profit association promotes high standards and advocates best practices for the use of tax stamps, track and trace and product authentication worldwide. Learn More
governmentJune 22, 2019 Newest Forever Stamps Feature Sesame Street Characters The United States Postal Service held a first-day-of-issue ceremony to commemorate the newest forever stamp being released. The stamps showcase sixteen of the well known characters of Sesame Street as the series celebrates 50 years on air. Learn More
governmentMay 29, 2019 ITSA Defines Roles and Responsibilities for Tobacco Compliance with the FCTC Under the WHO FCTC and Article 8 of Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco, this document looks at key technical requirements related to track and trace. Learn More
governmentMay 8, 2019 The Tobacco Black Market Intersec magazine highlights how illegal tobacco products are in need of track and trace control measures for international security. Learn More