On 11 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, on 15 January 2025 the Secretariat held the second iteration of the Symposium with a special focus on medicines and medical devices. Over 1,000 individuals registered for the event, thereby endorsing the WCO’s efforts to address the issue of IPR infringements via e-commerce.
Given the success of the first two Symposiums, the WCO plans to hold a third one at which, inter alia, the Operation STOP IV report, and its main findings will be shared.
Objective
The objective of this Symposium is to sustain and strengthen initiatives aimed at increasing awareness among Customs officers and the general 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 choose to attend either in-person at WCO Headquarters in Brussels or online.
Languages: English and French.
Date and time: 25 November 2025, from 13.00 to 15.00 (Brussels time)