The European Commission launched an Action Plan last week (http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/resources/documents/COMM_NATIVE_COM_2005_0479_3_fr_ACTE.pdf) to crack down on counterfeiting and piracy in the framework of the policy of cooperation between the Union and the customs administrations of the Twenty-Five. The decision of Brussels follows the publication of the 2004 data relating to the seizure of counterfeit and pirated goods on the external frontiers of the Union: a further increase of 12% over 2003, for an overall increase of 1000% over 1998. Apart from constituting an economic damage estimated at several billion euros per year both for producers and retailers and for taxmen counterfeiting and piracy are potentially damaging for the health and safety of consumers: there are ever-more frequent cases of defective spare parts for cars and electrodomestic appliances, fabrics that cause skin and blood diseases, medicines of dubious manufacture, irregular and potentially dangerous foodstuffs. The Plan provides six main measures to combat the problem, including the signing of Protocols of cooperation between the Commission and the trade Associations most badly affected and the reinforcement of international legislation both to extend controls (not just at the moment of the entry of merchandise into EU territory) and increase administrative and penal sanctions.
