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The number of intercepted counterfeit goods seized by the EU customs authorities grew in 2015 by 15% compared to the previous year (Fig.European Commission). The 40 million products suspected of violating an intellectual property right had a value of nearly € 650 million. According to the EC, cigarettes remain to the top category with 27% of counterfeit goods which were detained and food, beverage toys, electrical goods, and even more dangerous -medicines- accounted jointly for 25.8% of the total. And China again was the main originating country for such goods with 41% of the total. Even more impressive, and according to the Counterfeit Report (www.The counterfeitReport.com) this criminal industry is expected to exceed $ 1.7 trillion globally in 2016. The power of the Internet but also the lack of discernment of many consumers facilitate the rapid expansion of this industry. And the most appropriate response to the worrying phenomenon of a continuing growing of counterfeit goods worldwide is to destroy the production in the countries of supply.

Mo Tailland / 13th January 2017

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