EU: KOVACS (EU COMMISSION), "FAKE GOODS THREATEN HEALTH AND ECONOMY" (2)

As to the goods seized by the European customs authorities, there has been a decrease in the absolute numbers of cigarettes and CD/DVDs, while makeup and toiletries (+264%), toys (+98%), drugs (+51%) are increasing. China is still the country which the largest amount of fake goods come from, accounting for 60% of the total. Georgia and Turkey have been pointed out as the producers of some kinds of goods, especially toiletries. Most illegal drugs come instead from Switzerland, India and the Arab Emirates. Cigarettes alone account for 35% of the total amount of seized goods, followed by drugs (22%). The Commission report speaks of another area of action as well: "Computer and Internet hacking of copyrighted works, especially music, films and software, is equally worrying", even if these spheres are still hard to control.