Abstract: The invention may include a novel composition for and/or processing of an active element for an EAS marker that achieves the same or better performance of existing materials while solving the problem of higher cost. It may include a magnetomechanical active element formed by planar strip of amorphous magnetostrictive alloy having a composition FeaNibMc wherein a+b+c=100, wherein a is in a range of 40-70 weight percent, b is in a range of 10-50 weight percent, and c is in a range of 10-50 weight percent, and where M is the balance of remaining elements; wherein the magnetomechanical active element is subject to batch annealing in the presence of a magnetic field that is substantially transverse to the ribbon length of the element and at a temperature of less than about 300° C. and for a time greater than at least about one hour.