The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, UNICRI, has established a permanent watchdog for anti-counterfeiting systems and has launched the first international anti-counterfeiting database.

Seizure of counterfeit products in Paris - Photo : French customs

This database, named the Worldwide Track and Trace Bank (WTTB) aims to allow the tracking of counterfeit products through the synchronisation of information between police services and customs officers across the world. Data will be taken from the producer through to the consumer, recording each transportation of original products in order to more easily identify shipments of copies.

For its part, the watchdog will be responsible for studying the effects of new anti-counterfeiting technology on the flow of illegal products. The organization will also advise companies on the best methods to effectively differentiate their products in an attempt to limit the risk of them being copied.

By Jonathan Fulwell (Source: Matthieu Guinebault)