Can holograms ensure product integrity for pharmaceuticals?

A document security and brand protection specialist, TSSI Systems, proposes a technology-driven solution to the issues raised by Andrew  Witty, the chief executive of UK-headquartered drug major  GlaxoSmithKline, concerning the need for the governments in Southeast  Asia to clamp down on the counterfeit medicines trade (see page 17).  Improved legislation and better enforcement are only two parts of the  solution, the Swindon-based TSSI argues.

"Asia is one of the many sources of counterfeit drugs to Britain,  although the situation in Britain is not yet as severe," said Stewart  Hefferman, chief operating officer of TSSI Systems. He added that  "machine-readable holograms applied to packaging, along with a variety  of other multi-level security features used at various stages throughout  the supply chain, can help to reduce the infiltration of fake drugs. We  can learn lots from the luxury goods industry which often uses  machine-readable security holograms that are difficult to copy, when  applied to the packaging of goods they can help to prevent  counterfeiting." Among the organizations already using TSSI's  technology are the National Health Service, private security company  Group 4 Securicor and the John Lewis Partnership retail group.