A report released today by the European Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office indicates that last year, “90% of the volume and value of counterfeit goods were seized in seven and six member states, respectively,” with Portugal being part of the first group.
In terms of the volume of counterfeit products seized by law enforcement, customs, and market oversight authorities within EU countries in 2024, Portugal ranked fifth, accounting for 2.74% of the total intended for the domestic market and 0.07% of the total for cross-border trade.
Leading ahead of Portugal were Italy, Spain, France, and the Netherlands.
Concerning the estimated value of the seized counterfeit products, Portugal ranks tenth, accounting for 0.77% of the total, alongside member states such as Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Overall, according to this report, which details the EU authorities’ efforts to protect intellectual property rights at European borders and within the internal market, 112 million counterfeit products were detected in 2024, with a retail value estimated at 3.8 billion euros.
“Although the total number of items seized is lower than the exceptional record set in 2023, this year still marks the second-highest number in the series. Compared to 2022, seizures in 2024 increased by more than 30%, demonstrating the persistent scale and complexity of intellectual property violations in physical and digital markets,” note the European Commission and the Intellectual Property Office.
The seized items ranged from toys, perfumes, cosmetics, clothing, CD/DVDs (including software), to newer categories like electronic cigarettes and vaping devices.
According to the report, “emerging technologies are fueling the proliferation of more sophisticated counterfeits, while the growing demand for application software and retro gaming content has led to an increase in counterfeits infringing on copyright.”
Customs authorities seized around 20 million items at the EU border, with an estimated value of 1.5 billion euros, representing a 10-year high.
“This apparent increase is attributed to higher unit prices of the seized counterfeit products, reflecting a change in the nature and market impact of products infringing intellectual property,” it is observed.
As in previous years, China remains the main origin of counterfeit products entering the EU, followed by Turkey, with the United Arab Emirates entering the top three countries of origin for these products for the first time.
According to the report, postal and express courier services remain the most common means of transport for these goods.
