Holograms Can Defeat Global Counterfeiting Epidemic and Rescue Middle Eastern Governments from Financial Challenges

EDAPS Offers Secure Cigarette Tax Stamp Solution

KIEV, Ukraine, February 20, 2010 - As the world continues to grapple with economic challenges, a new method
of securing cigarette tax stamps from counterfeiting and falsification could
save nations in the Middle East and globally 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 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.

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, ext. 11, Fax, +38044-5612545