Not to be missed!
International Conference on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy
Outcomes
Protecting consumers is a priority for Customs Administrations. Their health and safety are under attack by the ever growing phenomenon of counterfeiting and piracy. The importance given to the fight against this menace is evidenced by the high level attendance at this event by both Customs and the private sector.
Among the different solutions proposed for concrete action:
1. The need for a real acceptance at the highest political level of the dangers posed by counterfeiting;
2. Improvement of legislative and operational measures;
3. These improvements must, in order to be effective, be adaptable to the evolution of the problem;
4. Proposing to Customs Administrations, in cooperation with the private sector, practical tools so as to be able to distinguish the genuine from the fake;
5. Concentration of resources on operational necessities;
6. Intensification of efforts at operational level, for example through the creation of teams specialised in risk analysis at the major ports and airports;
7. Improve exchanges of information between the public and private sectors and improvements of Customs to Customs flows of intelligence;
8. Practical solutions must be found for the problems related to the Internet. During this conference, a very significant step was announced by the UPU international bureaux and operators from the postal sector (French, Italian, British and Dutch) who propose amendments to the UPU Convention so as to prohibit the passing of counterfeit merchandise via the postal network.
The WCO thanks all participants for their involvement and engagement in this serious fight to protect the property, and the safety, of all.
