15 miljoen merken

In mooie sameloop met dit artikel in de Telegraaf van vandaag over de recente inbeslagname in Rotterdam van 15 Miljoen merkartikelen, bericht de EU vandaag dat de statistieken er niet om liegen en dat ze er nog harder tegenaan gaan. 

"The European Commission has presented a package of measures to strengthen protection for the EU and its citizens against counterfeiting and piracy. Naast "A new business-customs working group,  a new Task Force of Member States' Customs experts, the completion of an anti-counterfeiting risk management guide, a new electronic system of secure, real-time transmission of information en the promotion of  the signature of memoranda of understanding with major trade representatives", zal de Commissie zich ook gaan buigen over "possible amendments to the World Trade Organisation Intellectual Property Rights ("TRIPS") Agreement so that countries apply anti-counterfeiting controls not only on imports but also on exports, transit and transhipment movements. Above all, efforts will be made to fully implement, strengthen or develop bilateral customs-co-operation agreements with China, the USA, Japan and other trading partners.

Statistics showing the amount of counterfeit and pirated articles seized at the EU's external borders in 2004 demonstrate that counterfeiting is a growing and increasingly dangerous phenomenon. The 103 million counterfeited and pirated goods seized in 2004 represent an increase of more than 12% compared to 2003 and 1000% compared to 1998. Fake foodstuffs, medicines, household items and car parts, that can damage the health and safety of consumers, are continuing to grow in number and the higher quality of fakes is making detection more difficult. Leer hier en hier meer.