Eurolab: Anti-Counterfeiting and illicit trade news and data

For your information, I hereby send you some latest news and data in relation the illegal counterfeit and IPR infringements.

• Europol and Interpol coordinated operation OPSON 2020, which targeted trafficking of counterfeit and substandard food and beverage. The operation, the tenth of its kind, ran from December 2019 to June 2021 and involved law enforcement authorities from 72* countries, including 26 EU Member States. The operation was also supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), as well as national food regulatory authorities and private-sector partners.

OPSON X in brief:

• 15 451 tonnes of illicit products seized with a value of about € 53.8 million
• About 68 000 checks
• 663 arrest warrants
• 2 409 location searches
• 42 criminal networks disrupted

Main counterfeits: Alcoholic beverage; Food supplements and additives; Cereals, grains and derived products; Fruits and vegetables; Sugar and sweet products; Meat and meat products; Seafood; Dairy products; Poultry products; Livestock; Condiments; Cooking oil; Non-alcoholic beverages; Coffee and tea; Canned food; Animal food

You can read more here.

• Joint EU-OECD workshop on the misuse of containerised transport for counterfeit trade. On 1 October the EUIPO hosted a joint EU-OECD workshop on the misuse of containerised transport for counterfeit trade. Containerized maritime transport is the backbone of globalization, accounting for more than 70% of total value of world trade. Containerized maritime transport offers a range of logistical and technological solutions that benefit both consumers and businesses. The recent OECD/ EUIPO report on ‘Misuse of containerized maritime shipping in the global trade of counterfeits’ highlights the phenomenon of illicit trade in counterfeits via containerized maritime routes, and the risks associated with enforcement gaps. The goal of this meeting was to identify potential governance gaps related to abuse of containerized maritime transport, and ways to address them. You can read more here.

• The 2021 Observatory plenary: outcome and video: On 29 and 30 September, the EUIPO Observatory annual plenary meeting gathered approximately 180 stakeholders both in Alicante and online. It was a welcome opportunity to discuss challenges and achievements of the year. Topics discussed included, the reintegration of IP crime into EMPACT (coordinated by EU Agency Europol), European law enforcement priorities to fight against organised crime and how the Observatory can continue to contribute and support the operational initiatives. Stakeholders exchanged thoughts and ideas on international cooperation initiatives and how to strengthen the global approach to IPR enforcement. Initiatives related to awareness and education were also discussed including the need to develop different approaches and involve new partners. For more information, click on the video link.