- Counterfeit goods being stopped by customs just the tip of the iceberg
- Recession increasing demand for counterfeit goods
Data published by the European Commission today* on the number of customs cases against
counterfeit goods show that the UK faces a major problem with imported counterfeit products, says
City law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP (RPC).
The report reveals that:
- The number of cases handled by UK customs authorities jumped 63% from 1,295 to 2,117 last
year (to Dec 31 2009).
- But the UK still lags behind other major EU economies: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain,
France, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands are handling more cases.
The following comment can all be attributed to Andrew Hobson, Partner at RPC.
"The increase in cases handled by the UK Customs Authorities shows the size of the problem
faced by UK businesses with counterfeit goods entering the UK from abroad."
"There is a long list of other EU members who were more proactive than the UK Customs
Authorities last year in clamping down on imports of counterfeit goods."
"The recession means that more consumers are tempted to purchase counterfeit goods. It also
raises concerns about budget pressure on customs authorities, like HMRC in the UK. Businesses will
be concerned that these cases against counterfeit goods just represent the tip of the
iceberg."
"So many counterfeit goods go undetected by EU customs Authorities that this is a reminder
to businesses that they need to use the national laws in EU member states to protect their
intellectual property after the goods have arrived."
"The money made from trade in counterfeit goods funds organised crime so this is a problem
the authorities need to take seriously."
"China, the UAE and Hong Kong account for the vast majority of counterfeit goods so EU
customs officials should be focusing their efforts on goods coming from those countries."
* "Report on EU customs enforcement of intellectual property rights"
ENDS
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Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP
+44 (0)20 3060 6471
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Mattison Public Relations
+44 (0)20 7645 3636