Seizures of fake goods in EU fall

In 2009, EU Customs took action in 43,500 cases involving several million products suspected of being counterfeited or pirated at the external borders of the EU. This is according to the European Commission’s annual report on EU Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), which was published on the 22 July 2010.

Cigarettes, clothing and brand labels were among the main articles stopped by customs on suspicion of IPR infringements. However, products for daily use and posing a potential danger to citizens’ health, such as shampoos, toothpaste, toys, medicines or household appliances, also accounted for a significant part. Today’s report gives statistics on the type, origin and transport method of IPR infringing products stopped at the external borders.

European Commission: Press Release: IP/10/995: Fight against fakes: Commission publishes Annual Report on EU Customs actions to enforce intellectual property rights http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/995&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: DG Taxation and Customs Union: Customs: Customs controls: Counterfeit piracy: Statistics http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_controls/counterfeit_piracy/statistics/index_en.htm

BBC News, 22.7.10: EU reports growth in fake goods from China http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10726125

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