2008-07-15

Call for Interest: Proposal to develop a new work item on performance requirements for purpose-built anti-counterfeiting tools

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is seeking comments on a new work item proposal submitted by the Association française de normalisation (AFNOR) to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for a standard on performance requirements for purpose-built anti-counterfeiting tools.

An alarming increase in reports of counterfeit products has caused unprecedented public outcry and fear of potentially dangerous goods on the market. Not only do substandard products pose health and safety risks, they also have tremendous negative economic repercussions.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently undertook a study to assess the magnitude and impact of counterfeiting and piracy. The objective of the project was to improve factual understanding and awareness of the problem iand the effects that infringements of intellectual property rights have on governments, business and consumers. The OECD issued its findings in a June 2007 report.  The results indicate that the flow of illicit cross-border trade in so-called "hard goods," i.e., tangible counterfeit and pirated products, could be up to $200 billion USD, a figure greater than the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of some 150 countries.

The proposed project seeks to specify performance objectives for anti-counterfeiting systems. Specifically, the standard would strive to achieve market transparency regarding the reliability and robustness of these systems, and would facilitate integration and processing of anti-counterfeiting measures in product design.
Scope of the proposed work:

The standard would address a number of performance requirements for anti-counterfeiting systems, including:

    * Data acquisition, data processing, and data storage;
    * Interoperability systems and subsystems dedicated to protection against counterfeiting;
    * Capability to facilitate controls in any circumstance, location, and condition of usage, without generating specific constraints;
    * Authorization and monitoring of data access for different actors concerned
    * A high level of reliability to all interested actors; and
    * Specific requirements for security, including a tracking process.

The proposed standard will be applicable to all stages of a product's life cycle, and will be relevant to any industry sector. Standardization related to specific technologies such as RFID, optical devices, and DNA fall outside the scope of this proposal.

For more information, or to submit comments, including support for or opposition to the proposal, or to express your interest in participating on a committee to develop a standard in this area, please contact Lynne Gibbens, Senior Program Officer ISO via email, [email protected] or by telephone +1 613 238 3222 ext. 452.

The deadline for submissions is September 2, 2008.