Hewlett Packard (HP) this week launched a new toner cartridge authentication software to fight counterfeiting. The new technology is expected to enable customers to confirm the purchase of an original HP toner cartridges.
 

The toner authentication is a free software application which is applicable on select HP laser jet printers. Mr Ken Mbwaya, HP Managing Director East Africa, added that plans are underway to roll out the software on more Laser Jet models over time.

In addition, HP’s new Toner Cartridge Authentication program will identify remanufactured cartridges as “used,” along with identifying other non-genuine cartridge states.  Though the software will undoubtedly curb the inadvertent use of counterfeit toner cartridges it also has the potential to impact use of other legitimate cartridges as well by labeling other cartridges as “non-Genuine”.
According to HP’s Anti Counterfeit programme manager Tina Rose, between January and May 2011, the company had seized over 190,000 counterfeit products in Kenya. She continued to say, “HP ink and print cartridges are more counterfeited and we want to ensure that our customers are able to identify counterfeit toner cartridges.”

Speaking at the launch, Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA) executive director and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Mallowah pointed out that as the biggest consumer of commodities, the government and the public sector in general are susceptible to counterfeits thus the need to amend the law. "Because the government is the biggest buyer, we are hoping that that should be a significant deterrent to counterfeiters," he asserted.
HP also announced the commencement of a series of training sessions targeting government officials from the Anti Counterfeit Agency, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Weights and Measures and the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) among others. The main aim of the training programme is to enhance capacity to identify counterfeit goods. “We are also carrying out a series of awareness campaigns in Kenya so that users make informed choices on the right product to purchase,” said Mr. Mbwaya.