In a significant initiative to safeguard Indian enterprises, industry leaders are urging the government to create specialized task forces, impose stricter penalties for counterfeit activities, and bolster international cooperation in the fight against counterfeiting.

At the recent 6th Traceability and Authentication Forum (TAF 2025) held on March 18-19, participants stressed the critical need for India to embrace a holistic strategy to tackle counterfeiting. They underscored the necessity for incentivizing businesses to adopt advanced authentication technologies to protect both local markets and exports.

The event, organized by the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) – a self-regulated non-profit focused on promoting awareness about physical and digital authentication and traceability solutions worldwide – highlighted the urgent requirement to preserve the integrity of India’s industries against the threat of counterfeiting that disrupts both domestic and export markets.

Advocating for tougher anti-counterfeiting regulations and enhanced traceability techniques, various stakeholders pointed out that with the increasing global demand for high-quality, traceable products, India is at a pivotal moment to implement world-class anti-counterfeiting strategies. Industry experts indicated that counterfeit items, mislabeled products, and fraudulent certifications pose significant risks to India’s standing, both domestically and abroad. Such fake products compromise safety and erode consumer trust, potentially leading to tighter trade restrictions from international partners.

Unified in their call for stringent policies, real-time tracking systems, and cooperative efforts across industries, experts highlighted the value of adopting blockchain-enabled traceability solutions and AI-driven authentication systems to oversee supply chains and identify fraud instantaneously. Nonetheless, they emphasized that India must advance alongside these technologies, particularly in rural regions where authentication methods often revert to traditional practices, such as product identification by color. In this regard, ensuring the clarity and accessibility of physical overt packaging is also essential, allowing all consumers, irrespective of their location or technological capabilities, to verify authenticity easily.

“Counterfeiting is a widespread issue that affects numerous sectors, including agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and consumer goods,” stated Abhishek Dev, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). “It endangers consumer safety and undermines India’s credibility in trade.”

During his address to the forum, Mr. Dev expressed appreciation for the insights shared in the ASPA-CRISIL report released in 2022, which underscored the far-reaching impact of counterfeiting across various industries.

“Studies like this are vital, and we need more such reports to guide our efforts in addressing this challenge. APEDA promotes continued collaboration and the development of solutions, as data-driven insights are crucial for our industry’s response,” he mentioned. He added that APEDA is currently focused on enhancing traceability systems for organic products under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).

“We are eager to advance these efforts by incorporating cutting-edge authentication technologies like holograms and QR codes to ensure product integrity. This aligns with our Honourable Prime Minister Modi’s vision of producing top-quality products in India that earn trust, both at home and abroad,” he concluded.

Manoj Kochar, President of ASPA, reiterated the necessity for unified efforts to combat counterfeiting, remarking, “TAF 2025 united industry leaders and policymakers to formulate solutions that protect consumers and promote fair trade.” He further stressed the significance of raising consumer awareness internationally and domestically as a key measure to ensure their safety and uphold brand integrity. He also announced that ASPA will soon publish the “State of Counterfeiting in India 2025,” furthering the organization’s commitment to research-backed advocacy and collective industry action.

The forum drew over 200 participants, including more than 40 industry leaders, government officials, and technology experts who engaged in discussions about the latest anti-counterfeiting solutions. Key representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, as well as leading companies from various sectors, emphasized the urgent need for reinforced regulations to combat counterfeit trade.

The TAF 2025 concluded with a resolute commitment from stakeholders to advocate for comprehensive policies and technological innovations aimed at protecting India’s industries. The sector is now looking to policymakers for decisive action to ensure the long-term sustainability of the nation’s business landscape.

The commitments established at the forum are anticipated to result in actionable policy reforms in the coming months, enhancing competitiveness, safety, and reliability of products in both domestic and international markets.