Holograms Can Defeat Global Counterfeiting Epidemic and Rescue Governments From Financial Crisis

EDAPS Offers Secure Cigarette Tax Stamps Solution

KIEV, Ukraine, February 16, 2010 - As the world continues to grapple with global economic challenges, a new
method of securing cigarette tax stamps from counterfeiting and falsification
could save nations from revenue losses totaling more than $50 billion (US)
annually. New specialized holograms used as a foundation of the comprehensive
enforcement solution from the EDAPS Consortium, may cut off funds supporting
organized crime and terrorism, two consistent beneficiaries of the world's
near trillion dollar counterfeit and piracy plague.

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has
determined the estimated 600 billion counterfeited and smuggled cigarettes
crossing national borders annually represents $50 billion (US) in lost
revenue affecting nations throughout the world.

Some 400 governmental organizations and companies currently use
holographic elements produced by EDAPS Consortium, one of the world's leading
producers of holographic security elements (HSE).

"By combining state of the art holograms with our enforcement methodology
and Track & Trace System, we are enabling government agencies to double their
revenues from the sales of excisable products while shutting down illegal
uses that often fund transnational criminal activities," said Alexander
Vassiliev, Chairman of EDAPS.

The Secretary General of the World Customs Organization has singled out
for praise the Ukrainian system of protecting goods with tax stamps with
holographic security elements developed by EDAPS. "This system is a good
example for other states," said Michel Danet at the Global Congress on
Combating Counterfeiting & Piracy.

"The key role of our organization is to provide reference information and
inform government institutions of the methods of protecting goods from
counterfeiting. These methods become more complicated while shadow market
dealers develop new methods of counterfeiting not only products, but security
elements as well," the Secretary General concluded.

In addition to providing highest security tax stamps and their Track &
Trace System, the EDAPS Consortium is providing nations around the world with
consultant support on enforcement methodology, circulation and verification
of excise stamps and tobacco products so as to develop solutions to
challenges outlined by the World Customs Organization.

Also, The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have both
declared the introduction of anti-counterfeiting measures such as
forgery-proof tax stamps as essential to combating tobacco smuggling.

edaps.ua/en/

Olga Lubimova of EDAPS Consortium, +38044-5612570/11, Fax: +38044-5612545