IAA - International Authentication Association

IAA FAQ's

1) What is the role of the IAA?

The International Authentication Association (IAA) provides a single authoritative voice for all companies involved in the development and use of authentication technologies, systems and services.

Specifically, by bringing together all parts of the authentication industry, the IAA seeks:

To represent the authentication industry as a whole across public and private sectors and to ensure the effective participation of the industry in strategy, policy & standards discussions
To establish and disseminate a compelling rationale for the role of authentication in corporate, national, regional and global anti-counterfeiting strategies
To educate and inform governments, government agencies, inter-government organizations and brand owners regarding the role and use of authentication
To lead discussion and debate on the evolution and development of the authentication industry
To protect and promote the interests of the authentication industry at all times

2) What are the membership benefits?

Membership of the IAA brings with it the opportunity to help set the global authentication agenda and participate in the process to create international standards, educate and raise awareness among governments and brand owners worldwide and demonstrate involvement in authentication industry best practice.

Corporate credibility and industry reputation is also associated with attaining membership alongside the leading players in the authentication, brand protection and global product manufacturing sectors.
Members also have the opportunity to represent the association at industry meetings, trade forums and exhibitions where the IAA has taken a booth. Members can also have links from the IAA website to their own. Members’ white papers, news, views, presentations and events can also be submitted for inclusion on the IAA site.

3) What are the membership requirements?

Membership of the IAA is open to any direct user or provider of authentication technologies and services, or government agency, with a legitimate interest in promoting the understanding and use of authentication. Divisions or subsidiaries of parent companies may join in their own right.

IAA membership requirements are necessarily stringent to ensure its members represent the highest levels of leadership in the Authentication industry. Prospective IAA members will have demonstrated to their peers that they adhere to the highest standards, and then, on an ongoing basis, that they maintain them.

Members are from two categories - the users and suppliers of authentication solutions. They are drawn from the whole range of fmcg and branded product manufacturing sectors, such as beauty and health care and luxury goods, and also include those involved in a wide range of authentication systems and technology solutions.

4) What makes the IAA different from other anti-counterfeiting associations?

The fact that the IAA brings together brand owners and solution providers to establish and promote best practices in authentication, without any bias toward a particular technology or approach, is extremely valuable for the industry’s mutual ‘constituency’ and target audiences.

The IAA therefore enables the authentication community to speak with one voice to form a focal point for the public sector (government, NGO, law enforcement, DRA’s) and the broad range of end users (brand owners) who require effective guidance on the use of authentication systems, technologies and products and their integral role in anti-counterfeiting strategies.

5) What sort of organizations does the IAA engage with on behalf of the industry?

The IAA plays a major role in the representation of the authentication community among all those organisations with an interest and involvement in global anti-counterfeiting efforts. These include:

Inter-Governmental Organizations: Interpol, World Customs Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Health Organization
IPR-owner anti-counterfeiting organizations: Global AntiCounterfeiting Network and its members (eg The AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC), The AntiCounterfeiting Group (A-CG), UdF Union de Fabricant (UdF)); Quality Brands Protection Committee; the International Trademark Association, The Association of European Trade Mark Owners (Marques), Business Action to Stop Counterfeitimng and Piracy (part of the International Chamber of Commerce)
Standards & Policy organizations: International Organization for Standardization (ISO), European Standards Committee (CEN), North American Security Products Organization (NASPO), Document Security Alliance (DSA), Coalition against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP - US Chamber of Commerce)
Industry Organizations: Many national and international organizations across vertical sectors, such as pharma , software, electronics and electrical, etc.

6) What is the structure of the IAA?

The IAA is owned by its members. It is managed by a board that is elected by the members annually, chaired by an elected chairman. Board members serve for a period of 3 years Administrative and advocacy work is carried out by Reconnaissance International, as the Secretariat.

7) What opportunities are provided for members to meet and discuss matters of common interest?

Aside from the annual meeting and regular telecons, regular seminars and regional meetings are scheduled to educate, inform and serve as information channels for the members.

8) How does the secretariat communicate with members to keep them informed of news, developments and opportunities?

Regular email bulletins, the public and the members only portion of the IAA website.

9) How much does membership cost?

The current fee is £6,500 "payable in sterling, US dollars or euros at prevailing exchange rates". There is an application fee of £900 which will be credited to first year membership fee if your membership application is successful.