New EU Report Highlights Need to Step Up Anti-counterfeiting Investment
- Published: April 13, 2022
A global trade body has welcomed a new report that paves the way to ‘significant’ opportunity and growth for anti-counterfeiting and security devices such as holograms.
The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) was commenting on the Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment 2022* report by EUIPO (EU Intellectual Property Office) and Europol.
According to the report, piracy and counterfeiting continue to pose a serious threat to the European economy and people’s health and well being. Imports of fake and illicit goods reached €119 billion in 2019, which represented 5.8 percent of all goods entering the EU zone.
More than 66 million counterfeit items were seized by EU authorities in 2022 – a staggering amount, according to the IHMA – as pharmaceuticals, food items, cosmetics and toys among other goods were targeted by criminals and counterfeiters looking to cash in on unwary consumers during the pandemic.
However, accessories and luxury products remain among the most prevalent categories for counterfeit goods the report says, while spare parts and alcohol are also seen as being at high risk.
The pandemic has been lucrative for the trade in counterfeit and pirated products, according to the IHMA, and criminals continue to see opportunities as global supply chains and economies re-adjust in the post lockdown economic and social landscapes.
The trade body is calling for additional pressure to be applied by manufacturers, brand owners, government authorities and law enforcement to increase investment in anti-counterfeiting technologies to help stem the tidal wave of fake products flooding into the EU.
Security devices on packaged goods can ensure quality and check the distribution and smuggling of illicit products, while items not displaying security holograms can be seized and destroyed.
Commenting directly on the EUIPO and Europol report, IHMA chair Dr. Paul Dunn said the war on counterfeiting is a hard one to win and efforts should never slacken.
Dr. Dunn also points to EUIPO’s Anti-Counterfeiting Technology Guide** for advice to help traders and enterprises understand the main types of anti-counterfeiting technologies such as electronic identification, digital security devices and tracking tools.
Learn more at www.ihma.org.
** 2021_Anti_Counterfeiting_Technology_Guide_en.pdf (europa.eu)
