ASPA launches first sector-focused TAF Connect in Mumbai

The event, themed trust, track, transform, is a sector-focused format under ASPA's Traceability and Authentication Forum (TAF) umbrella. It aims to address counterfeiting risks specifically within the pharma, agriculture, and FMCG industries, each facing unique yet interconnected due to counterfeit and illicit trade. 

A central highlight of the conference will be the launch of the ASPA–CRISIL report titled State of Counterfeiting in India 2025, which will provide data-driven insights into the scale of illicit trade. The event will see four impact sessions along with technical presentations by experts, a panel on policy and regulatory discussion, solution showcase, and many more.

The programme features discussions and technical sessions designed to explore practical, policy-led, and technology-driven approaches to authentication. These include topics such as “strategic supply chain safeguarding” through a dialogue on the adoption of traceability to protect national economic growth.

Discussions will also focus on policy and regulatory standards to enable trust through compliance and consumer protection frameworks. In the pharma sector, experts will deliberate on technology-driven protection from the manufacturing stage through to the patient.

For the agricultural industry, the conference will address strengthening the farm-to-field ecosystem to ensure the authenticity of inputs. A dedicated session on FMCG security, titled “securing everyday essentials,” will focus on combatting counterfeits through the use of smart packaging.

ASPA expects more than 150 senior stakeholders, including brand owners, regulators, and industry leaders. Mankind Pharma and Crystal Crop Protection are supporting the event as national consumer trust and safety partners, alongside several players from the authentication and traceability ecosystem. The forum aims to promote the adoption of physical, digital, and phygital solutions to secure supply chains.