The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission have published a joint report which provides useful information to support the analysis of IPR infringements and the development of appropriate countermeasures by the relevant enforcement authorities in the Member States.
According to the document, around 86 million counterfeit items were seized in the European Union in 2021, an increase of almost 31% compared to 2020. The value of seized counterfeit goods in the EU is estimated at over €1.9 billion.
Among the most seized products are packaging materials, cigarettes, labels, clothing, and toys. Ten Member States (Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Malta, and Hungary) account for almost 97% of the total number of counterfeit products seized in the EU in 2021.
As in previous years, China remains the main country of origin of the majority of counterfeit goods entering the EU in 2021, followed by Turkey (from which the most seized category is clothing) and Hong Kong.
The results of the report illustrate that intellectual property crime poses a real threat not only to the economy in the face of innovation and creativity but also to the health and safety of consumers and the EU’s environmental security. It is recognized that the need for coordinated action against intellectual property crime is significantly growing.
For more information on this topic and to access the document itself: EU enforcement of intellectual property rights: results at the EU border and in the EU internal market 2021