A more recent and ever increasing issue, is that of unauthorised product diversion (or grey market) into markets where the established retail prices are then slashed.Where this occurs authorised stockists become upset and the perceived value of the trademark becomes devalued. This may lead to stockists changing to rival brands and deterioration of consumer loyalty and aspiration to attain the trademark at previously established prices.
Diverters remain undetected by removing bar codes, or eradicating ultra violet markings.
However as Contrast identifications are completely invisible, difficult for diverters to remove what they do not see.By duplicating bar code numbers in such invisible way, when the diverted product is discovered it can immediately be traced back to the grey link in the distribution chain.