Overview of Customs Enforcement Actions in Europe for 2024: Prioritize Monitoring of Your IP Rights

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) have published the 2024 report on the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs) by European customs authorities, both at the EU’s external borders and within the internal market.

The full report is available on the EUIPO website as an interactive infographic, which you can explore [here].

🔹 Impressive figures

In 2024, 112 million counterfeit goods were seized, with an estimated value exceeding €3.8 billion.

Three quarters of these seized goods mainly concerned the following categories:

• CDs/DVDs (including software),

• toys,

• clothing and fashion accessories,

• cigarettes (and e-cigarettes),

• perfumes and cosmetics.

Although the total number of seized items has slightly decreased compared to 2023, it remains higher than in previous years. Conversely, the total value of seized goods increased by 11% year-on-year.

Moreover, 80% of seizures led to the destruction of goods, thereby preventing millions of counterfeit products from entering the European market.

🔹 The importance of cooperation with rights holders

While customs authorities have the legal powers to seize goods, their effectiveness largely depends on cooperation with intellectual property rights holders.

By filing a customs intervention application, rights holders can enable authorities to identify and swiftly block suspicious goods.

In fewer than 6% of procedures, rights holders did not follow up on a seizure (action or destruction), highlighting the efficiency and responsiveness of the system.

🔹 A simple and effective procedure

The customs intervention procedure is straightforward and offers rights holders the opportunity to:

• be alerted in the event of a suspected infringement;

• confirm or refute the suspicion of counterfeiting;

• obtain information about distribution channels and offenders;

• request the destruction of goods or take additional legal action.

This system helps prevent the marketing and sale of infringing products and allows rights holders to gather valuable information about counterfeiters for potential follow-up actions.

Mark & Law assists you in protecting your trademarks and taking effective actions to prevent and stop counterfeiting.

– Eléonore DAUPHANT, Trademark Attorney and Partner at Mark & Law