The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) is a not-for-profit organization founded in November 2015 with a focus on advancing the understanding and adoption of tax stamps and associated technologies globally. ITSA aims to promote the benefits of tax stamps, including enhanced revenue protection, anti-counterfeiting, and the control of illicit trade by leveraging tax stamp technologies. It pursues these objectives through education, research, advocacy, and the development and promotion of best practices within the tax stamp community. ITSA fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange between industry stakeholders, regulators, and policymakers to address challenges related to traceability and security features under the EU Tobacco Products Directive and other regulatory frameworks.
Registered in the EU Transparency Register since July 26, 2018, ITSA operates primarily as a trade and business association within the lobbying arena, classified under in-house lobbyists and professional associations. Its lobbying efforts target EU legislation pertinent to tobacco product regulations, particularly focusing on the implementation of traceability, security features, and data storage requirements. With a modest lobbying budget recorded as €9,999 for the 2017 financial year and an equivalent of 0.5 full-time equivalent lobbyists active, ITSA maintains a lean but focused lobbying presence.
The organization’s head office is located in the United Kingdom at the Windmill Business Village in Sunbury-on-Thames. ITSA holds membership with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and is affiliated with a variety of tax stamp member organizations worldwide, emphasizing its role as a centralized voice for the community. The association is led by Ms. Nicola Sudan, serving as General Secretary and person responsible for EU relations.
ITSA engages in outreach activities like issuing guidelines for EU Member States on why tax stamps provide the best solutions for traceability and security features, underlining its expert role in policy discussions. Although no EU high-level group memberships or formal meetings have been declared, ITSA remains active in networking strategies and standards development by submitting recommendations for the EU Digital Product Passport and participating in forums such as the Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum™.
In summary, ITSA is a specialized lobbying entity advocating for advanced, secure tax stamp solutions in the EU and beyond, leveraging technical expertise, research, and cooperation with standards bodies and regulatory authorities to influence policy in this niche sector.
