Anti-counterfeit technology market set for 'steady' growth

The global market for anti-counterfeiting technologies could reach $82.2bn by 2015, according to new research from Global Industry Analysts which says that the food and pharmaceutical industries are currently the most vulnerable to the actions of counterfeiters.

The report (more information here) notes that pharmaceutical and food companies suffer "substantial" losses every year from counterfeiting, and this is encouraging various strategies to prevent brand damage, including investments in anti-counterfeit technologies.

"With the security threat graph spiking a tad too rapidly for manufacturer’s comfort, demand for anti-counterfeit products and services is experiencing a steady rise," says the report, which notes that holograms, tamper-evident closures, taggants and markings and RFID labels will all play their part in the fight against counterfeiting.

GIA also note that this increase in investment in technologies is coming despite the downturn in the global economy, helped by regulatory drivers including US and EU moves towards serialisation and track-and-trace for pharmaceuticals.

North America and Europe collectively account for a major share of the global anti-counterfeit packaging market, according to GIA, and brand owners there are increasingly investing in multilayered brand protection using overt, covert and forensic technologies.

"The fundamental market drivers for anti-counterfeit technologies remain strong," says the report. 

"Government regulations necessitating the need for anti-counterfeit technologies are the silver lining from the downturn in the global economy [and] the present recessionary climate also makes sense to invest in anti-counterfeit packaging to gain back the lost sales from the counterfeiters."


Anti-Counterfeit Packaging: a Global Business Report