Trade EU records record number of seized counterfeits
In 2023, the number of counterfeit goods seized in the EU reached a new high, mainly due to the flourishing online trade.
13.11.2024, 15:07
SDA
In 2023, the number of counterfeit goods seized in the European Union reached a new high. A report by the European Commission and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) attributes this development to the increase in online trade.
The report highlights that 2023 was a record year for the EU single market, with the highest figures in the last twelve years. In total, more than 152 million counterfeit items were seized at the EU's external borders and within the internal market, an increase of 77% compared to the previous year. The estimated value of these counterfeits rose by 68 percent to around 3.4 billion euros.
Counterfeit games were confiscated particularly frequently, followed by toys, CDs and DVDs. Packaging materials and labels were also often confiscated, which indicates that counterfeits are increasingly being labeled within the EU in order to avoid being noticed at borders.
Counterfeits in the internal market
The majority of confiscated goods were not discovered at the EU's external borders, but within the internal market. Last year, 138 million items were confiscated within the EU. The authorities attribute this increase to online trade, as most counterfeits are now sent by post.
On the other hand, the number of goods confiscated at the external borders fell. More than half of these products came from China, followed by other Asian countries.
The EU Commission warns that counterfeit products can be dangerous for consumers as they could be harmful to health or unsafe.
