Glossary

A stage in the use of a tax stamp, when applicable taxes become due. Also refers to a unique identifier used for track and trace, which is activated at the point where the identifier is applied to an item and scanned, and then linked to that item in a central database.

An overt security feature identified by sight or touch alone. See also Passive security feature.

A means of sticking two surfaces together. In the anticounterfeiting context label adhesive should allow effective application but prevent unauthorised removal.

The tampering of a product to extend its use by dilution or deliberate addition of a harmful substance that renders the product dangerous or less effective.

Artificial intelligence systems that operate with a certain level of autonomy and intentionality. Unlike generative AI systems, which only respond to specific prompts or tasks given by users, agentic AI systems are designed to take independent actions, pursue goals, or make decisions based on a set of objectives or desired outcomes. This type of AI can proactively seek information, adapt to changing environments, and perform tasks without direct human oversight.

Allows the identification of individual items within an outer package to be recorded and associated with a unique identifier applied to that package. The identifier can then be used to record the movement of the outer package (together with the movement of its contents) throughout the distribution chain. In the case of cigarettes, this parent-child relationship can record the hierarchy between packs and cartons, cartons and master cases, and master cases and pallets.

A human-readable character set containing both letters (A-Z) and numbers (0-9). The increased number of permutations resulting from using letters and numbers allows data to be encoded with fewer characters than if only numbers are used.

Using a wristwatch as an example, an analogue watch uses the movement of hands over a dial to represent passing time. It’s not the same thing as time itself, but an analogy of time. Sometimes contrasted with ‘digital’, a numeric representation of information.

Authentication technology based on the affinity (binding) between small molecules (marker) added to the product or its packaging during production and a protein (the antibody) added during the verification test.

A security feature that does not accurately reproduce when copied or scanned using a mechanical or digital device. Includes printed security features integrated in the background of security printing which are invisible to the naked eye under normal inspection conditions but become visible or cause flaws to appear after copying or reproducing with a scanner.

Technical measures designed to prevent or detect counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade. Not synonymous with non-secure track and trace technologies used for purely logistic purposes (codes on mail items for example).

A topcoat layer added to the surface of any number of materials, including adhesive materials such as labels and tape. The film contains a bacteria-blocking agent called Agion, produced by combining silver ions and zeolite.

A security feature that uses infrared radiation to create an emission within the visible spectrum. An anti-Stokes ink contains crystals of rare-earth metals (ytterbium thulium etc.) and glows when exposed to high-intensity IR light. Luminophores which glow green are the most commonly used.

A feature such as a secure closure specifically used to resist the opening of a container or identify that a container has been opened.

Software on a mobile device used to link the holder to a specific web page/service.

A connection between computers or computer programmes. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how to build such a connection or interface is called an API specification. The term API may refer either to the specification or to the implementation.

Specially formulated ink which reacts when in contact with water-based reagents, leaving a visible mark.

The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.

A procedure that identifies the presence and amount of a substance (such as a marker or taggant) in a particular composition.

A process that uses a pair of related keys – one public and one private – to encrypt and decrypt a message and protect it from unauthorised use.

Something that is real, genuine, valid, of undisputed origin. Authentication is the process of confirming that a product, document or even person is authentic.

The process of determining that a product, document or even person is authentic.

Digital technologies used to automatically capture data, including barcodes, smart cards, biometrics, RFID and NFC.

A band or tape used as a closure to seal or provide tamper resistance. A banderol(e) is another name for a tax stamp, usually referring to the long stamp placed over the neck of alcohol bottles.

A method of storing limited amounts of data in a linear array of lines and spaces (1D barcode) or larger amounts in a rectangular array (2D barcode).

A series of vertical printed black bars of controlled thickness and separation representing variable data information in a linear, one-dimensional format (eg. UPC, EAN).

A 2D barcode (eg. datamatrix, QR code, dotcode), typically square-shaped, capable of representing more data per unit area than a linear barcode.

A variant of polypropylene, a thermoplastic polymer that forms an ideal printing surface for labels and banknotes.

A component in a mixture (such as ink) that provides two distinctive emission spectra when excited by two different wavelengths.

A system used to produce void pantographs. Consists of two-dot patterns of differing sizes that allow a desired message or image to appear when an original document is copied. The system plays off the physical limitations of the optical systems in copiers and scanners. The little dots are sized below the optical resolution and thereby disappear when copied, while the larger dots are preserved and subsequently stand out visually.

A phenomenon exhibited by certain materials in which an incident ray of light is split into two rays, called an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, which are plane-(linear) polarised in mutually orthogonal planes, or circular-polarised in opposite directions (left and right).

A printing method consisting of two blanket cylinders through which a sheet of paper is passed and printed on both sides.

Security ink containing dyes which, in combination with a solvent, penetrates the paper substrate so that any attempt at mechanical erasure will cause visible damage to the document.

A method of creating a raised design without the use of ink. Typically, two metal dies are used for this process: one with raised detail, and another with matching but recessed detail.

The diffractive principle by which a layered stack of parallel reflecting surfaces of alternate higher and lower refractive index will reflect a beam of light, only when the reflected wavefronts are of an appropriate wavelength and orientation to produce constructive interference.

Any hologram in which the Bragg condition is preferential to the grating condition in forming the image. See also Volume hologram.

Text readable by touch, consisting of raised dots. Often used on cardboard outer packs and mandatory in some jurisdictions.

A project delivery method where a private entity receives a concession from the public sector to finance, design, construct, own, and operate a facility stated in the concession contract. This enables the project proponent to recover its investment, operating and maintenance expenses in the project. BOT is usually used in public–private partnerships.

Refers to how energy moves between conductive elements separated by insulators. Capacitive touchscreens, found on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, are made up of multiple layers of glass and plastic, coated with a conductor material like indium tin oxide or conductive polymers. This conductive material responds when in contact with another electrical conductor, like a bare human finger.

A packaging unit of tobacco products. One carton usually contains 10 packs (or 200 individual cigarettes).

A plant material that is used in the manufacture of pulp for papermaking.

Also known as a checksum character or control digit, this is usually the last digit of a number or barcode used to verify that the number is correct. A decoder calculates the checksum by performing a series of mathematical operations on the digits that precede the check digit, and comparing the result of the calculation to the value of the check digit.

Security papers which react to common solvents used to remove ink from a security document.

A classic hologram is usually made using a 3D object, often a model. A laser beam is split in two and part of it is diverted onto the object, then reflected off it and allowed to combine (or interfere) with the other part of the beam known as the reference beam. The classic hologram is a recording of the interference pattern between the object and reference beams. A well-known example of a classic hologram is the dove used by Visa on its credit cards.

Transfer of ink by a pad or stamp directly onto packaging.

On-demand access, via the internet, to computing resources – applications, physical servers, virtual servers, data storage, development tools, networking capabilities, and more – hosted at a remote data centre managed by a cloud services provider.

Typically an integral layer of material added to alter, enhance or protect the surface properties of an underlying base substrate or printed surface.

Light that passes through an optical system parallel to the optical axis, for instance where the direction of illumination and direction of observation are in parallel. Coaxial light is used to reveal hidden motifs in retroreflective laminate.

A system of words, letters, figures, or symbols used to represent certain information.

An ink that changes colour when scraped with a coin or similar metallic object.