New standard 'could help prevent illicit alcohol deaths'

The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has published a white paper on the scourge of counterfeit alcohol in response to a string of high-profile incidents that have claimed hundreds of lives.

The document details some of the most notorious incidents in recent years – including cases involving multiple fatalities in Laos, Fiji, Turkiye, Czech Republic, and Russia – and explains how a brand protection standard (BPS) developed by TAPA Asia Pacific (TAPA APAC) can strengthen the supply chain against counterfeit goods by encouraging logistics companies to "design out" vulnerabilities.

The BPS – which applies to illicit alcohol as well as other goods vulnerable to counterfeiting – provides a comprehensive set of guidelines covering topics like the use of an approved carrier network, risk assessment and mitigation strategies, collaboration and intelligence sharing, and training and certification of logistic providers. More details can be found in this accompanying white paper.

"Every tragedy linked to counterfeit alcohol reminds us of the critical role we play in defending consumers against these deadly threats," said Tony Lugg, chair of TAPA APAC.

"The TAPA BPS is more than just a set of guidelines—it is a call to action for all stakeholders in the supply chain to protect not only their brands but also the health and safety of individuals around the world," he added.

"By adopting these standards and empowering logistics providers with the tools to detect and prevent counterfeit goods, we can create a unified front against counterfeit goods and build a more secure, resilient supply chain for the future."