Speaking with Salil Chawla, Director of DFU Publications, and Ankit Gupta. Joint MD of Holistic India Limited l Vice President of Aspa, the Authentication Solution Providers Association, and the Co-founder of HoloFlex Limited, a Kolkata-based company, on the sidelines of the TAF 2025 show.
As we stand on the ASPA platform, reflecting on the concluding remarks about creating a counterfeit-free world, do you believe it is truly possible? If so, what is the way forward?
Fighting counterfeiting is a continuous journey—it cannot be eliminated overnight or in absolute terms. Counterfeiting is one of the oldest businesses in the world, and while it may never fully disappear, its prevalence can be significantly reduced over time. Our goal is to bring it down to single digits, ideally below 5% or even 1% in the future. Achieving this requires constant innovation and technological advancement.
Technology plays a crucial role in addressing this issue. How significant do you think AI's role will be? Like any other technology, AI will have its place. Over the past two days, we’ve discussed how each technology comes with its own strengths and limitations. Ultimately, solving counterfeiting will require a combination of technologies.
As AI evolves—particularly in areas like image pattern recognition—it will become an integral part of anti-counterfeiting solutions.
If you were to identify the industries most vulnerable to counterfeiting, which ones would they be?
The industries most impacted are those that directly affect human life. Food and pharmaceuticals are at the top of this list, as counterfeit products in these sectors pose serious health risks.
However, the impact extends beyond these. The automotive industry also faces severe consequences, with accidents occurring due to counterfeit spare parts. Ultimately, counterfeiting affects every sector, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Beyond health and safety, counterfeiting also has economic implications. This morning, we heard about how fake pesticides prevent farmers from earning their rightful income, sometimes leading to extreme financial distress and even suicides. The ripple effect of counterfeiting goes far beyond just the immediate sale of a fake product.
As Vice President of ASPA, what key policy measures would you advocate to close these loopholes?
The government must take this issue seriously and introduce clear regulations that define industry protocols. These policies should be practical, developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders, and most importantly, enforced effectively.
Setting industry standards is crucial. Solution providers like us can then implement these standards to ensure compliance. Another key aspect is consumer awareness. A few years ago, campaigns like Jago Grahak Jago played a critical role in educating consumers, but such efforts have diminished over time. Reviving public awareness initiatives is essential.
How can bad actors in this ecosystem be eliminated?
There is no foolproof way to completely eliminate counterfeiters. The financial incentives for counterfeiting are simply too high, meaning they will always attempt to find new ways to operate. This is why we often describe the fight against counterfeiting as a cat-and-mouse game—we must always stay one step ahead.
The key is continuous innovation—making it increasingly difficult for counterfeiters to replicate legitimate products.
Lastly, you mentioned a powerful phrase: “Those who can make can also fake.” Do you have a final message?
I always emphasize two things. First, as individuals and as an organization, we must champion Make in India, not Fake in India. Our focus should be on building genuine, high-quality products that strengthen our economy and national reputation.
Second, Ek aur ek gyarah—which means “one plus one equals eleven.” This signifies that instead of competing, we must collaborate. Complementary technologies should be leveraged together to create stronger, more effective solutions against counterfeiting.