Latest news with #TrackandTrace
Business Recorder
31-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Cigarette industry demands effective TTS enforcement
KARACHI: Cigarette industry has urged the federal government for the special measures in the budget for effective enforcement of digital monitoring tools like Track and Trace System (TTS) to collect the billions of rupees additional tax revenue. As per estimates, Pakistan's illicit cigarette market is draining over Rs415 billion annually from the national treasury, shifting an unfair tax burden onto compliant manufacturers, which are the leading tax payer sector in the country. While illegal manufacturers evade taxes and regulatory oversight, legal companies bear nearly all the tax load despite having less than half the market share. This creates a distorted market where legal businesses struggle to compete, and consumers unknowingly support illicit trade through inflated prices and limited product choices. Industry sources said that illicit trade severely disrupts market balance, forcing lawful manufacturers to shoulder disproportionate tax costs. This not only harms the industry's growth but ultimately affects consumers who pay higher prices for taxed products, they added. 'Effective enforcement of digital monitoring tools like Track and Trace is essential to restore fairness and protect government revenues,' they said. Experts warned that if preventive measures are not taken in the upcoming budget, illicit trade will continue to erode government resources needed for public services, hinder economic development, and encourage illegal business practices that undermine the rule of law in Pakistan. Industry experts emphasise that cracking down on illicit trade through enhanced regulatory frameworks can reclaim billions in lost revenue and ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders. They said that the government can earn billions of rupees revenue by fully implementing the track and trace system in the industry. Several commitments have been made in the past to address this issue; however, enforcement actions on the ground have not been taken to curtail the scale of the illicit trade. In absence of the full implementation of the Track and Trace system, illicit operators are growing freely and depriving the national exchequer of much-needed billions of rupees revenue. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
New Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang durian farmers in told to register for 'Track and Trace'
GEORGE TOWN: Penang durian farmers have been told to immediately register under the Department of Agriculture's tracking system to combat the influx of durians mislabelled to be from the state. State Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol said the department's "Track and Trace" smart monitoring system was developed in collaboration with MIMOS Bhd, which had experience in tracking systems and had applied it in the vaccination programme with the Health Ministry. "Through this system, each durian will be tagged with a QR code. "Consumers just need to scan to verify the origin of the durian," he told newsmen at his office in Komtar here today. It was reported that Penang would roll out the Track and Trace to ensure the authenticity and quality of Penang durians. Fahmi said, so far, between 50 and 60 farmers had committed to using the system, while 20 large-scale farmers had already registered. "Tags are ready and implementation will begin immediately from June 1. "We will assist farmers in obtaining these tags as quickly as possible. "Registration can be done through the Department of Agriculture, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), or the exco office," he added. Fahmi said the state government also proposed that the use of this tagging system be made a requirement for all farmers before they were allowed to sell durians. "If this system is not used, facilities such as aid, promotion and participation in government programmes will prioritise farmers who comply with the implementation of this system," he said. Fahmi said those wishing to join the annual durian festival on June 23 would need to use the tagging system to ensure the quality and authenticity of the durians. "The use of this technology not only protects the interests of consumers, ensuring they buy durians at a reasonable price with good taste, but also helps farmers build their reputation and expand their market, including exports to China," he said. He said farmers who wished to join this programme must provide legitimate land ownership information and relevant documents. "Furthermore, the tagging application must be made by the farmers themselves, not through intermediaries," he said. Nation May 22, 2025 @ 12:09am Penang to roll out 'Track & Trace' tech to protect its durians Nation Apr 11, 2025 @ 10:25pm Protest fallout: 3 reports lodged against Raub durian farmers Nation Apr 19, 2025 @ 7:32am Pahang DAP ready to facilitate talks between state govt, durian farmers Business May 21, 2025 @ 1:47am Penang's tuna-landing industry experiences significant growth
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
PMI in India Hails Track & Trace (T&T) Mechanism Roll Out in the country Aimed At Curbing Illicit Tobacco Trade
India, 2025: Philip Morris International Inc.'s (PMI) India affiliate, IPM India, today hailed India's decision to roll out pack-level Track and Trace (T&T) as a game-changing move against illicit tobacco trade and a major step towards modernizing regulatory enforcement. Approved under Section 148A of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, this reform marks a bold move to protect revenue, tighten enforcement, and bring greater transparency and accountability to India's tobacco market. Starting with cigarette packs, the government has chosen a smart, high-impact strategy to curb illicit tobacco trade. The proposed mechanism may incorporate Unique Identification Markings on packs, which will enable enforcement agencies to easily distinguish tax-paid products from illegal ones—strengthening oversight across retail shelves, supply chains, and field operations. The proposed T&T mechanism will be a practical, real-world solution designed for immediate impact—and a critical foundation for a more modern, technology-driven regulatory system. With operations across multiple markets, PMI brings deep, practical experience from some of the world's most advanced T&T systems & implemented it voluntarily in 140+ markets worldwide. In the European Union, PMI operates under the Tobacco Products Directive, where every pack is digitally tagged and monitored through the supply chain. Similar systems have been successfully deployed in UK, Russia, Jordan, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where PMI has worked with national authorities to build scalable, locally adapted traceability frameworks. Across all markets, the outcome have been consistent: better visibility, stronger compliance, and measurable reductions in illicit trade. Illicit tobacco trade isn't just a revenue problem—it's a public health threat, a blow to lawful businesses, and fuel for the informal economy. Track and Trace is a proven tool for modernizing supply chains and enforcement. By clearly separating legal from illegal products, it not only protects consumers but also secures tax collections and promotes a level playing field for compliant operators. Emphasising the need for a stringent T&T mechanism, Navaneel Kar, Managing Director, IPM India said, 'This is a landmark reform and a visionary step towards a cleaner, more modern, and a transparent market. With thoughtful execution, India's T&T system can reshape the fight against illicit tobacco trade—boosting public trust, strengthening government revenues, and accelerating the modernization of enforcement practices. Eliminating illicit tobacco trade has been a longstanding priority for us and remains integral to our broader efforts in driving operational excellence and building a sustainable future. PMI has long invested in technologies that protect supply chain integrity globally, and we are committed to partnering with the Indian government to make this initiative a success.'India's move to ratify the illicit tobacco trade protocol, also aligns with international standards. T&T is a core requirement under Article 15 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the 2014 Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. As one of the world's largest tobacco markets and a key transit hub, India's leadership sends a powerful global signal toward modernization and digital oversight. Implementation of the proposed T&T systems should allow interoperability, facilitate innovation and the optimization of enforcement activities along with independent, cost-effective solutions that do not disrupt the manufacturing and distribution environment. But technology alone won't deliver results. Collaboration is essential. Effective systems require close cooperation between governments, industry players, and technology providers. Solutions must be flexible enough to reflect India's enforcement realities and dynamic enough to stay ahead of evolving risks. India's T&T mechanism rollout is just the beginning. It sets the stage for a broader modernization of supply chain regulation—expanding across more products, deeper distribution layers, and even into other sectors facing similar challenges. With smart partnerships and sustained innovation, India can build one of the world's most resilient, transparent, and future-ready regulatory ecosystems.
Business Recorder
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz directs swift action on pending tax cases to recover national wealth
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed on Tuesday that pending tax-related cases should be pursued effectively to ensure the recovery of the nation's wealth. He said this while chairing a review meeting on broadening the tax base and increasing tax revenue, as per a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The PM ordered that strict action should be taken against individuals and sectors involved in tax evasion, and emphasized that officers and personnel who facilitate tax evasion must also be held strictly accountable. 'Expanding the tax net is the government's top priority. We aim to reduce the tax rate to ease the burden on the common man,' the PMO quoted the premier as saying. PM Shehbaz orders crackdown on tax evasion, under-invoicing The meeting was informed that the complete implementation of the Track and Trace system in cement plants across the country has led to a significant increase of billions of rupees in tax revenue. It was further informed that after the implementation of this system in the sugar industry, there has been a 35% increase in tax revenue between November 2024 and April 2025. The premier said that the country's economy is stabilizing and moving towards growth. 'Everyone must fulfill their responsibility for the country's development,' the PM urged.
