On Friday 20 March, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) announced that it had opened an investigation into imports of fake products that are supposed to provide protection against Covid-19, such as masks and screening tests. OLAF has warned, however, that these contraband products “are ineffective or even detrimental to health”.
A press release states that “OLAF and national customs administrations are working together to prevent these dangerous counterfeit or prohibited products entering the EU”.
It points out that the pandemic has regrettably offered new opportunities for fraudsters to profit from the high market demand.
On 19 March, OLAF therefore opened an investigation in relation to the imports of fake products used in the fight against the pandemic, such as masks, medical devices, disinfectants, sanitisers and test kits.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, OLAF has been collecting intelligence and information on this illicit trafficking and is in close contact with competent authorities in Member States and third countries. OLAF is providing information to Member States in real time.
“Preventing these fake products from entering Europe is crucial to protect our health and fight effectively against the virus” says OLAF. On top of being ineffective against the virus, these products also fail to comply with EU standards. They could, for example, provoke a dangerous bacterial contamination.
Counterfeit masks have been offered online in different EU Member States at prices ranging between €5 and €10, approximately three times the normal price. Fake children's masks are also being “ruthlessly smuggled”.
These counterfeit products enter Europe via online sales and are sent by post. They also arrive in containers with false certificates and find their way into the normal distribution channels, or are sold on the black market. Until the travel ban, these products were placed in air passenger suitcases. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)