Dangerous fakes are increasingly sold via e-commerce – online sales represent 60 % of seizures of dangerous counterfeits destined to the European Union, as found in a new report “Dangerous Fakes. Trade in counterfeit goods that pose health, safety and environmental risks” from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released on March 17, 2022.
The report analyses data from customs seizures and other enforcement data and looks at how dangerous counterfeits can end up in the hands of consumers. Counterfeit products have a wide range of negative consequences. This report shows that counterfeits not only cause economic damage and job losses, but they also create serious risks for consumers. These include health risks (e.g. fake pharmaceuticals or food products), safety risks (e.g. fake automotive spare parts or batteries) and environmental risks (e.g. fake chemicals or pesticides). Read more