Report on EU customs enforcement of intellectual property rights. Results at the EU border 2016

Background:

The Commission's report on customs actions to enforce IPR has been issued annually since 2000 and is based on data transmitted by Member States' customs administrations to the Commission.

The data provide information which supports the analysis of intellectual property rights infringements and helps other institutions such as the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the OECD to map economic data and the most common routes for counterfeiters.

The European Commission published on 20 July 2017 a report on enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) at the borders of the European Union in 2016.

The document shows that customs authorities detained over 41 million fake and counterfeit products the the EU's external borders in 2016. The goods had a total value of over €670 million. Everyday products which are potentially dangerous to health and safety – such as food and drink, medicines, toys and household electrical goods - accounted for over a third of all intercepted goods.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: IP/17/2082, 20.07.17: Customs Union: EU customs seized over 41 million fake goods at EU borders last year http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-2082_en.htm

European Commission: DG Taxation and Customs Union: Report on EU customs enforcement of intellectual property rights. Results at the EU border 2016 [PDF - Alternative Link] https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/sites/taxation/files/report_on_eu_customs_enforcement_of_ipr_at_the_border_2017.pdf

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