Combination EAS and RFID label or tag with controllable read range

A security tag comprising:

• an electronic article surveillance (EAS) component having a defined surface area;
• a radiofrequency identification (RFID) component having a defined surface area, the surface area of the EAS component configured to at least partially overlap the surface area of the RFID component;
• and
• a substantially planar spacer having a thickness, the thickness of said spacer defining a read range between an RFID reader and the RFID component, said spacer at least partially disposed between the defined surface area of the EAS component and the defined surface area of the RFID component, wherein as the thickness of the spacer increases, the read range between the RFID reader and the RFID component increases, and as the thickness of the spacer decreases, the read range between the RFID reader and the RFID component decreases,
• the RFID component includes an antenna and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), the ASIC having a complex impedance, and the complex impedance of the ASIC matches a coupled complex conjugate impedance of the antenna including loading effects of the EAS component.