Structure and Benefits

Originally a voluntary trade association, IFSP was recently incorporated as a limited company in the United Kingdom.

This has given the organisation the framework and legal status required to pursue its objectives internationally. The Federation’s activities are overseen by a board of directors drawn from among the member companies.

Regional Level

Each regional division is responsible for the activities of several country-based operations within its remit. A regional director coordinates these activities, ensuring the strategy defined by the board is implemented locally.

Other tasks include assessing the counterfeit risk from countries with no IFSP presence, and recommending the establishment of such a presence where justified. The regional director also analyses and feeds back market intelligence and operational results to the board.

National Level

At national level, a country manager runs IFSP’s operations on the ground. That means delivering training to local law-enforcement agents and working with them to detect and halt the production of counterfeit spirits. In many markets, the country manager is supported by locally recruited IFSP staff.

The combination of regional and national levels enables IFSP to focus resources where the counterfeit threat is greatest. It ensures the strategy is applied consistently, as well. Regular in-market feedback allows results to be measured and, where necessary, the strategy adjusted to reflect changing conditions.

The Federation’s structure provides its members with:

• A coherent, cost-effective approach to combating counterfeit.
• A fully accountable, operational organisation.
• A forum for sharing anti-counterfeiting intelligence.
• An industry voice to highlight the substantial loss of public and commercial revenue caused by counterfeit.