The trade body representing the global hologram industry, IHMA, has welcomed ISO 12931, the first international standard to provide guidance for businesses on protecting their products from counterfeits.
ISO 12931 covers ‘Performance criteria for authentication solutions used to combat counterfeiting of material goods’ and is predicted to bring “significant benefits” to the hologram industry, according to the International Hologram Manufacturers Association.
The IHMA, which was involved from an early stage in developing the standard, says ISO 12931 offers new and objective guidance for brand owners and other rights holders on how to proceed when it comes to protecting their products from counterfeiters using security devices such as holograms.
Although not specifically referenced, definitions of ‘holography’ or a ‘hologram’ meet the only two types of authentication solutions identified by the standard – overt and covert.
“Now, brand owners will be equipped with an objective guide to how to proceed,” says IHMA general secretary Ian M Lancaster, who was a member of the ISO committee that produced ISO 12931. “This will encourage more to take counterfeiting seriously and to look at developing effective strategies to protect against it.”
Lancaster says that prior to the Standard, brand owners and other rights holders relied on authentication device providers to guide them through the requirements for the protection of their material goods – a less than ideal situation.
He adds that ISO 12931 will promote the use of authentication solutions, particularly encouraging the use of overt and covert solutions – functional categories that can be combined in one hologram.
“The new standard is a significant step forward and will bring welcome benefits to the hologram industry,” says Lancaster.
“It is now up to secure hologram suppliers to build compliance with ISO 12931 into their marketing materials and training.”
ISO 12931 is available to download from the International Organization for Standardization website (see below) and will also be available from national standards agencies.
The IHMA is made up of 90 of the world’s leading hologram companies. IHMA members are the leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world.
IHMA member companies actively cooperate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.
IHMA general secretary Ian Lancaster
