Securing the Supply Chain Upstream at Printers and Component Suppliers
Securing the supply chain against fraudulent re-use of genuine packaging components begins upstream from manufacturing at component and packaging suppliers. It encompasses protecting intellectual property at a component supplier and securing the handlig， storage and destruction of packaging materials and printed components.
A key to securing the upstream supply chain is the protection of intellectual property such as prototypes，specifications， drawings， artwork and print plates. Brand Owners should ensure that requirements for themanagement of intellectual property and waste materials areclearly spelled out in contractual agreements. Suppliers and contract manufacturers should have documented processes in place for the secure handling， storage and destruction of production prototypes，including，but not limited to molds，dies，industrial drawings， artwork and other intellectual property. These types of items，if handled and disposed of carelessly can be a windfall for counterfeiters and ilicit traders，making it almost impossible to tell the difference between a genuine and counterfeit component.
Documented processes and controls should also be established with suppliers and printers for securing finished components and branded packaging materials. Scrap and rejected materials should be secured，controled，reconciled，documented and destroyed in a verifiable manner within the facility or rendered unusable before being sent for destruction by another party. If sent to another party for destruction wthout being rendered unusable，destruction should be physically verified and documented.
