ISO 12931 covers ‘Performance criteria for authentication solutions used to combat counterfeiting of material goods’ and will bring significant benefits to the hologram industry, suggests the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA).
The IHMA, which was involved from an early stage in developing the standard, believes that 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 specifically not referenced, ‘holography’ or a ‘hologram’ meets the only two types of authentication solutions identified by the standard – overt and covert.
Objective guide on how to proceed
Ian Lancaster, the IHMA’s general secretary, was a member of the ISO committee that produced ISO 12931. He stated 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 scenario.
“Now, brand owners will be equipped with an objective guide to how to proceed. This will encourage more people to take counterfeiting seriously and look at developing effective strategies to protect against it.”
Lancaster added that ISO 12931 will promote the use of authentication solutions, particularly encouraging the use of overt and covert solutions – functional categories which can be combined in one hologram.
“The new standard is a significant step forward and will bring welcome benefits to the hologram industry. It’s now up to secure hologram suppliers to build compliance with ISO 12931 into their marketing materials and training.”
Download your copy of IS0 12931
ISO 12931 is available to download and will also be provided by 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 co-operate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.
