REVIEW OF 10 INDUSTRIES SUBJECT TO COUNTERFEITING

Foofstuff

China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Viet Nam and Thailand are the main producers of counterfeit foodstuff. Regionally, Turkey is a relatively significant producer of counterfeit food products, and exports them to the EU countries and to Serbia

Pharmaceuticals

India and China are the largest identified producers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Singapore is also indicated as a potential producer of fake pharmaceuticals. Hong Kong (China) is one of the most important transit points for counterfeit pharmaceuticals, mainly exporting them by post to Europe in small parcels. Other relevant transit points for fake pharmaceuticals include Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and Iran. From these countries, fake pharmaceuticals are reshipped to Europe by mail. Pharmaceuticals account for 2% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide. 

Perfumery and Cosmetics

Generally, China is the key producer of counterfeit perfumes and cosmetics preparations that are shipped throughout the globe. Counterfeit perfumes and cosmetics produced in Malaysia, Thailand, India and Singapore are generally exported to the EU. Turkey is a regional producer exporting counterfeit perfumery and cosmetics almost exclusively to the EU. Trade routes for counterfeit perfumery and cosmetics are very complex. Hong Kong (China) is the key transit hub for the fakes produced in China, which are then exported throughout the world. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait receive counterfeit perfumes and cosmetics mainly from China, and re-export them notably to the EU . Regionally, Albania is an important transit point for the fake perfumes and cosmetic on the way from Turkey to the EU. Fake perfumes and cosmetics produced in China, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Singapore are shipped to the OECD countries mostly by postal parcels. Parfume and cosmetics account for 5% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide.

Leather Articles and Handbags

China is the main producer of counterfeit leather articles and handbags. Fakes are exported across the globe either directly, or using several large trade hubs, such as Hong Kong (China) and Macau (China) and Kuwait. Other regional producers of counterfeit leather articles and handbags include Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. They export fakes directly to the EU. Turkey and Tunisia are also indicated as important producers that particularly target the EU. Postal parcels are the main conveyance method for fake leather goods used by counterfeiters in producing economies and transit points to ship goods to the EU. Air and sea transport are used for sending counterfeit leather articles and handbags from producing economies to transit points. Leather articles and handbags account for 13% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide.

Clothing and Fabrics

China is the main producer of counterfeit clothes and textile fabrics. In addition, Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia also appear as important producers, exporting them across the globe, either directly, or via Hong Kong (China) and Singapore. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are also important producers of counterfeit textile articles, which they ship to the EU. Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco are also indicated as important producing economies, mostly destined for the EU. The main transit hubs for the trade in fake clothes and fabrics include Hong Kong (China), Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Fake clothes and fabrics enter the EU from producing economies and transit hubs mostly in the post. Air and sea transport are used for exporting fake clothes and fabrics from producing economies to transit points. Finally, road transport is used for trafficking fake clothes and fabrics from Middle Eastern transit economies to the EU. Clothing and fabrics account for 16% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide. 

Footwear

China is the main producer of counterfeit footwear, followed by the Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam and Malaysia. Fake footwear is shipped from these economies directly to the EU. They are also shipped to some trade hubs, such as Hong Kong (China) and Singapore. In addition India and Pakistan also appear to be important producers of counterfeit footwear, which is shipped directly to the EU. Turkey and Morocco are also indicated as important producers of fake footwear, targeting the EU. Hong Kong (China), Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are the main global transit points. Regionally, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Morocco are important transit points for counterfeit footwear shipped to the EU. Most counterfeit footwear is shipped by mail in small consignments of up to five items. Footwear accounts for 22% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide.

Jewellery

China is the main producer of fake jewellery, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam. Counterfeit jewellery is shipped from these economies directly to Europe and to large trade hubs: Hong Kong (China), Macau (China) and Singapore. The main transit points for trade in counterfeit jewellery are Hong Kong (China), Macau (China) and Singapore. Other important transit points for this type of product include Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Lastly, Morocco is an important transit point for fake jewellery transported to the EU. Jewellery accounts for 2% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide. 

Electronics and Electrical Equipment

China is the main producer of counterfeit electronics and electrical equipment, which it exports throughout the globe. Other minor producers include Thailand, Korea, India and Singapore.  Hong Kong (China) is the largest transit point for counterfeit electronics and electrical equipment produced in China and Thailand and re-exported throughout the globe. The United Arab Emirates is also a central transit point for re-exports by mail and air to the EU. Regionally, Egypt and Turkey are transit points for fake electronics being shipped to the EU.  Air and sea transport are used for trade flows of counterfeit electronics and electrical products transported from producing economies to transit points, or from some transit points to the EU. Electronics and electrical equipment account for 12% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide. 

Optical, Photographic and Medical Equipment

China is the key producer of fake optical, photographic and medical equipment. Several East Asian economies – Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand and Viet Nam – also appear to be significant producers. Turkey produces counterfeit optical and photographic equipment targeted exclusively at the EU and Saudi Arabia. Large Asian trade hubs – Hong Kong (China) and Singapore – are the main transit points for exporting counterfeit optical, photographic and medical equipment worldwide, while Morocco, Algeria, Albania and Mongolia are identified as transit points for fake sunglasses, optical products and medical equipment en route to the EU. The lion's share of shipments of counterfeit sunglasses, photographic apparatus, and medical equipment is sent by mail and express services. Medical equipment accounts for 5% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide.

Toys, Games and Sports Equipment

China is the main producing economy of fake toys, games and sports equipment. It produces and exports them throughout the world, using a significant number of transit points, such as Hong Kong (China), Singapore and Macau (China). Other producing economies include India and Pakistan. Regionally, Turkey and Morocco are producers shipping to the EU. Apart from Hong Kong (China), Singapore and Macau (China), there are several other transit points for trade in fake toys, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. They receive the fakes direct from China, India, and Pakistan, and indirectly from Hong Kong (China), and re-export them to the EU. On a regional scale, Morocco, Lebanon, and Armenia also appear as important transit points for the fake toys, games and sports equipment en route from China, Hong Kong (China) and Turkey to Europe. Toys account for 3% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide.

Watches: Watches account for 7% of the total value of seized counterfeit goods worldwide.

Countries Monitoring

1. Albania
2. Algeria
3. Armenia
4. Bahrain
5. Bangladesh
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
7. Cambodia
8. China
9. Egypt
10. Ethiopia
11. Hong Kong (China)
12. India
13. Indonesia
14. Iran
15. Korea
16. Kuwait
17. Lebanon
18. Macau (China)
19. Malaysia
20. Mexico
21. Mongolia
22. Morocco
23. Pakistan
24. Philippines
25. Saudi Arabia
26. Serbia
27. Singapore
28. Thailand
29. Tunisia
30. Turkey
31. United Arab Emirates
32. Viet Nam
33. Yemen