WCO launches IPM Connected

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has launched IPM Connected, a global network of track and trace, and authentication tools interfaced with IPM made available to field customs officers around the world.

 

Interface Public-Members (IPM), is WCO’s online tool serving as an interface between frontline customs officers and the private sector.

 

It enables intellectual property rights holders to exchange information with field customs officers.

 

It has now been upgraded to include a mobile version, and includes the possibility to interface IPM with authentication and/or traceability systems companies.

 

WCO secretary-general Kunio Mikuriya said: ‘Providing customs officers with the best available technologies to combat counterfeiting is at the core of the WCO’s strategy. Connecting IPM to existing authentication and traceability solutions is a major leap forward which will enable customs officers to assess more effectively whether or not a product is genuine.’

 

The WCO has moved to encourage all databases, sources of information, authentication or traceability systems that could help customs officers in their fight against counterfeiting to interface with IPM and become IPM Connected.

 

The first such company to join IPM Connected is AlpVision. Rights holders who use IPM will, if they wish, provide customs officers with AlpVision's instant authentication application available on standard smartphones.

 

This collaboration harnesses WCO's operational power and AlpVision's technological expertise: custom officers scan the barcode and if the product is secured by AlpVision, IPM automatically launches AlpVision's application, allowing them to instantly verify the authenticity of the product.

 

Dr Fred Jordan (pictured, top), chief executive officer and co-founder of AlpVision, said: ‘AlpVision is extremely honored to be the first automated authentication solution available to more than 40,000 customs officers around the world.

 

‘We believe our joint collaboration will help facilitate the authentication of products, lowering the risk of human error and increasing the identification of counterfeit goods at the border.’

 

Read about the latest in brand protection and authentication market in the most recent issue of Package Print Worldwide, and here.

 

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