In June 2024, the WCO held a Symposium titled “Removing counterfeits from e-commerce”, preceded by the Operation STOP III report launch.
As a follow-up, in January and November 2025 the Secretariat held the second and third iterations of the Symposium with a special focus on medicines and medical devices and the real-world risks and impacts of counterfeit goods in the digital marketplace. Over 1,900 individuals registered for the events, thereby endorsing the WCO’s efforts to address the issue of IPR infringements via e-commerce.
The next Symposium in this series will be held in November 2026 with a focus on protecting consumers in the digital marketplace.
Objective
The objective of this Symposium is to sustain and strengthen initiatives aimed at increasing awareness among Customs officers and the public of the risks and adverse impacts associated with counterfeit goods in e-commerce.
Target audience
- WCO Member administrations and the RILO network
- International organizations
- Rights holders and industry representatives
- Private sector representatives (e-commerce platforms, Customs brokers, express carriers, postal operators)
- Academia
Format: The Symposium will be held in a hybrid format.
Registration: Participants may attend in-person at WCO Headquarters in Brussels or online.
Language: English and French
Date and time: 11 November 2026, from 13.00 to 15.00 (Brussels time)