The European Union seized about EUR2.1m (US$2.3m) in counterfeit or fake beverages at its borders in 2014, a marked rise on the year before, according to a European Commission report.
The European Commission released a report on customs enforcement earlier this month
The consists of EUR880,990 - 148,438 individual items - in alcoholic beverages and EUR1.22m - 453,971 individual items - in other beverages, noted the latest ‘report on EU customs enforcement of intellectual property rights’. Beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, was one of the categories that experienced the “most important increases” – leaping by 50% compared to 2013 – in the number of items detained.
The report noted the main countries of origin for seized counterfeit or fake alcoholic beverage items was Panama (51.3%), followed by Portugal (24.8%, looking at its exports destined for non-EU markets) and the Ukraine (9.5%). Most other beverages seized originated from Morocco (57.3%), as well as from Turkey (25.3%) and Russia (17.4%).
The EU detained a total of about EUR617.05m of counterfeit or fake goods, compared to EUR768.23m in 2013, said the Commission.
Sectors: Beer & cider, Soft drinks, Spirits, Water, Wine
