IMPORTS OF FAKE GOODS IN EUROPE

The main source of Europe’s counterfeits is China with 73% of suspect goods originating from there. Hong Kong, China, was the second country of provenance for fakes with Turkey, Vietnam, Syria, India and Egypt making up the rest of the top seven.

A handful of countries also dominate the counterfeit market in specific product categories, including the Republic of Moldova as the main country of provenance for fake alcohol, and the United States of America for all other beverages. Most counterfeit clothing comes from Turkey while India is noted for fake medicines. Hong Kong, China, is the main country of provenance for a long list of fakes including mobile phones, ink cartridges and labels. It is also the origin of the most high-value luxury goods such as fake watches.

Ten EU Member States accounted for 86% of the overall cases and 85% of the total number of articles detained. The most detentions are in Germany followed by Belgium, Spain, Italy and Denmark.

The list of products intercepted by customs is extensive and diverse – everything from fake luxury watches to vehicle accessories, to medicines and lighters.

Fake foodstuffs is the top product category and accounts for 24% of the detained articles, followed by toys (11%) and cigarettes (9%)

Although ready-to-wear clothing remains Turkey’s top counterfeit export, fake perfume and makeup also represent a huge share of the goods coming to Europe.

The United Arab of Emirates, noted for its export of high-value luxury goods, is the country of provenance for 5% of fake perfumes and fake makeups.

48% of the fake watches come from China, followed by The Islamic Republic of Iran (35%) and Hong Kong

China and Hong Kong, China, are successfully dominating the European market not just in the production of goods such as toys, clothing, packaging and mobile phone parts, but also in the creation and export of high-value luxury goods which are worth hundreds of millions of euros to the original brands.