Over 43 thousand cases of fake goods seized at the EU borders in 2007: the year before they had been 37 thousand. This is the balance submitted by the EU Commission in cooperation with the customs authorities of the 27 member states. However, the amount of goods taken away before they reach the market is decreasing: they are 79 million pieces versus a record-breaking 128 million in 2006. According to the EU Executive, "cooperation between customs and companies" is increasing, so fake or smuggled goods can be more easily found out. Top of the list are still cigarettes and clothes, while "more goods are being seized that are potentially hazardous for consumers", such as drugs, electrics, toiletries. "Fake goods keep threatening our health, our safety and our economy", explains Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs, who points at a stronger cooperation as a way to oppose to illegal goods. The statistics presented by the EU Executive show that the customs authorities have been helped by 10 thousand notices or contacts from European companies. (continued)
