Alcohol industry rages at BURS tax stamp

Earlier this year, Authentix, a Texas-based authentication firm, was chosen by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) to provide a “fiscal marking and inventory solution,” under a 10-year contract for a service known informally as 'track and trace'.

The track and trace system involves placing a biometric imprint on all alcohol and tobacco products as they are manufactured and/or imported into the country, allowing the BURS to check that the correct tax revenue is being paid and that the products are genuine and not illicit.