Counterfeits stopped in the EU

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August 3, 2009

Record amount of counterfeits stopped in the EU in 2008

Statistics published in July 2009 by the European Commission, relating to goods infringing intellectual property rights (IPR), show a significant increase in customs activity. In 2008 over 49,000 cases of goods detained, suspected of IPR infringements, were registered by the Customs at the EU's external border, whereas in 2007 the number of cases was 43,000.

The number of suspected infringing articles detained at the EU's external border in 2008 was an astounding 178 million. One year earlier the number was less than half, a total of 79 million articles. Last year, 79 million CD and DVD discs alone were detained by the customs, followed by cigarette articles in the amount of 42 million. Almost 18 million clothing articles were also detained.

Counterfeits can be dangerous

About 20 million articles detained were potentially dangerous to the health and safety of European consumers. The question was of food and beverages, personal care products, medicines and toys.

The most significant increases were in the product categories of toys (+ 136 %), electrical equipment (+ 58 %), medicine (+ 57 %) and personal care products (+ 42 %). The number of articles detained increased in the categories of DVD discs (+ 2600 %), medicines (+ 118 %) and cigarettes
(+ 54 %).

Counterfeits are mainly shipped from China

According to the statistics, China was the main source country for IPR infringing articles with approximately 55% of the total amount. United Arab Emirates reached nearly 12% of the total, the main article being cigarettes. Indonesia was the main source in the category of foodstuff and beverages.

The majority of the detained suspected counterfeits came to the European Union by sea transport, with 144 million detained articles. Goods detained from road transportation amounted to over 20 million articles, whereas the amount of detained goods in air transport was about 10 million.

Nearly 55% of the detained goods infringed trademark rights and covered a variety of product sectors. Patent infringements were recorded in 43% of the stopped goods. Copyright and design infringements represented a mere 2.5% of the total amount. The largest product category as regards infringement of patents and copyright was CD/DVD discs.

In Finland detained counterfeits less than before

In Finland both cases of suspected counterfeits as well as detained articles developed a downward trend in 2008. According to the statistics, last year the Finnish Customs recorded 102 cases and detained 1.3 million articles, whereas the figures in 2007 were 154 cases and 1.85 million stopped suspected counterfeits.

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