Record number of fake goods seized in EU
EU law enforcement authorities detained more than €3.4 billion of counterfeit goods last year – an increase of 77%.
A new report, published by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission, has revealed that law enforcement authorities detained 152 million fake items in 2023, with an estimated value of more than €3.4 billion.
The most common fake goods were games, toys, recorded CDs/DVDs, labels/tags/stickers and packaging material, together accounting for almost three-quarters of all the detained products.
The investigations also found that China continues to be the main source of fake goods entering the EU, with postal and express courier services the most common means of transport for this.
The report aims to provide insight into intellectual property infringement in the EU, by collating data from police, customs and market surveillance authorities from EU Member States. It incorporates findings from goods seized at the EU border, as well as in the EU internal market.
This invaluable information assists enforcement authorities in developing appropriate countermeasures to combat counterfeit, while also helping to inform the work of EU policymakers.
On its website, the EUIPO said the results highlight an urgent need for continued action against counterfeiters, with the full report concluding, “fostering closer collaboration and timely sharing of information and intelligence… between customs officers, police, market surveillance agents, and right holders at both national and international levels is crucial.”