Counterfeit Trade Continues to Challenge EU Markets

The spread of counterfeit products continues to pose a serious challenge across Europe, fueling unsafe, unethical and often criminal supply chains that affect the broader economy.

In 2024 alone, more than 112 million counterfeit items worth an estimated EUR 3.8 billion were detained at EU borders and within the internal market, according to the latest EUIPO report.

Key Findings

• Most seizures occurred in sea cargo, with countries hosting major ports such as the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Belgium reporting the highest numbers.
• The main countries of origin were China, Turkey, and the UAE, which underlines the importance of strong IP protection in these regions.
• Top product categories included clothing, software, toys, and cigarettes, with the rise in the latter two posing serious health and safety risks.

How To Protect Your Brand

Stopping Counterfeits at Customs

• Filing an Application for Action (AFA) is one of the most effective ways to prevent counterfeit imports.
• Union AFAs (UAFAs) offer an efficient, EU-wide solution that also covers small consignments.
• Rights holders should also file national AFAs in major markets outside the EU, such as the UK, and in manufacturing hubs like China, where customs can intercept fakes before they leave port.
• Active and local enforcement in Turkey and the UAE helps limit counterfeit flows into Europe.

Fighting Fakes Online

Counterfeits do not stop at physical borders. With E-commerce platforms being a significant sales channel, automated monitoring services are key for detecting and removing fake websites, product listings and unauthorised sellers quickly and efficiently.

Continuous monitoring also helps identify new threats early, protecting both brand reputation and customer trust.

Enforcing IP Worldwide

Abion assists brand owners in securing IP protection and coordinating customs and online enforcement across most jurisdictions.

With offices in the EU, UK, Asia, Turkey, UAE, and Norway, our teams coordinate directly with local customs to ensure counterfeit goods are identified and seized before they reach consumers.

Contact one of our specialists

Email Matthew Rook, Enforcement Specialist, for questions on brand protection and customs management, or Eszter Kurtan, Lead Senior Associate, for legal advice.