Number of seized counterfeit goods declines in the EU

In 2012, the EU customs authorities seized close to 40 million counterfeit goods – a sharp decline on the previous year when more than 114 million suspected counterfeit goods were seized, according to a recent report from the European Commission.

The report concludes, however, that although the number of seized counterfeit goods has diminished, the value of the seized goods has increased. Counterfeit goods mainly comprise consumer goods such as cigarettes, packaging materials, clothes and toys.

The number of applications for action filed by right-holders for EU customs intervention has increased steadily over the past decade from about 1,600 in 2002 to more than 23,000 in 2012. In 90 per cent of the cases of detention by the customs authorities, the goods were destroyed after the owner of the goods and the right-holder agreed on destruction.

Source: “Report on EU customs enforcement of intellectual property rights – results at the EU border 2012” (European Commission)