European Commission
Ferdinando Nelli Feroci

Industry and Entrepreneurship

Too good to be true?

The real price of fake products

Financially, EU citizens have a lot to lose from fakes. It is also an ethical issue. A major beneficiary of this illegal business is organised crime. World-wide, organised crime is heavily involved in distributing fake goods: for them it’s a real growth opportunity.

These goods can pose serious risks to safety and health. Why would crooks care about your safety? Citizens lose as consumers. What looks like a bargain often turns out to be a waste of money, as fake products are essentially not made to the same quality standards.

We all lose as taxpayers. Illegal operators and traders don’t pay taxes, so you pay more to make up for the loss. Dealers in imitations harm the European economy as they damage legitimate business and starve innovation.

Fake goods compete unfairly with genuine industrial products, putting many jobs at risk in Europe. Against this menace, there is only one thing to do.

Say no to fake goods! Go for the original!

Watch the "Stop fakes" video in English - French - German - Italian - Spanish

Access the "Stop fakes" brochure [2 MB] - please click the [...] icon to read it in other languages.

Useful links

• European Institutions and Agencies

  • Enterprise and Industry Directorate General (DG ENTR)

  • Taxation and Customs Directorate General (DG TAXUD)

  • Internal Market Directorate General (DG MARKT)

  • Health and Consumers Directorate General (DG SANCO)

  • Trade Directorate General (DG TRADE)

  • European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

  • Europol

  • Eurojust

  • European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights

• International Organisations

  • Interpol

  • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

• Member States

  • • Namaak - Contrefaçon

    Belgium

  • • Агенция "Митници"
    • Интервю Антонио Таяни

    Bulgaria

  • • Celní správa České republiky

    Czech Republic

  • • The Permanent Danish Network Against Counterfeiting and Piracy

    Denmark

  • • Marken- und Produktpiraterie

    Germany

  • • Võltsitud kauba tarbimine on ohtlik nii tarbijale kui ka ühiskonnale

    Estonia

  • • Intellectual Property Crime in the White Paper on Crime Discussion Document No. 3 'Organised and White Collar Crime'

    Ireland

  • Greece

  • • Stop falsificaciones

    Spain

  • • La contrefaçon

    France

  • • Carinska služba Republike Hrvatske
    • Ministarstvo financija

    Croatia

  • • Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli
    • Guardia di Finanza
    • Press communication [322 KB] - Comando Provinciale Guardia di Finanza Roma, 5 July 2013
    • Press communication - Carabinieri

    Italy

  • Cyprus

  • • Latvian intellectual property institutions

    Latvia

  • • Lithuanian Customs Department press release

    Lithuania

  • • Contrefaçon (Administration des Douanes et Accises)

    Luxembourg

  • Hungary

  • • Malta Customs
    • Stepping up the fight against cigarette smuggling and other forms of illicit trade in tobacco products

    Malta

  • • Douane Nederland

    Netherlands

  • • Ministry of Finance

    Austria

  • Poland

  • • Contrafação

    Portugal

  • • Departamentul pentru lupta antifraudă - DLAF

    Romania

  • • Lani največ zasegov ponaredkov

    Slovenia

  • • Úrad priemyselného vlastníctva Slovenskej republiky
    • Finančná správa Slovenskej republiky
    • Centrálny kontaktný útvar pre OLAF

    Slovakia

  • • Tulli
    • Harmaa Talous, Musta Tulevaisuus

    Finland

  • • Undvik piratkopior — det tjänar alla på

    Sweden

  • • Counterfeit goods
    • Counterfeit medicines and devices

    United Kingdom