In 2017, the European customs authorities intercepted more than 31 million counterfeit articles at the EU's borders, 10 million fewer than in 2016 (see EUROPE 11834), according to the annual European Commission report on customs action published on Thursday 27 September.
The report shows that the total number of cases in the EU fell from 63,184 in 2016 to 57,433 in 2017. The number of articles intercepted is falling the majority of EU countries, with the notable exception of Finland, which experienced a 2185% rise compared to the previous year, Latvia (223%), Poland (211%), Austria (203%) and even France (118%).
The Commission asserts that in 2017 a much higher proportion of the merchandise seized (43%) is now made up of daily products, which makes counterfeiting possibly dangerous because health products, medicines, toys and electrical goods are involved.
This year food products were the top of the list of the articles most frequently intercepted (24%), with cigarettes only in third position (9%), after toys (11%).
China is the main country of origin for counterfeit products entering EU territory, particularly for counterfeit mobile telephones and ink cartridges, whereas for counterfeit clothes, Turkey is the main country of origin.
The report can be seen at the following link: https://bit.ly/2zzDqqX. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)