the fight against counterfeiting is reinforced during the summer

12,289 counterfeit stamps are the loot confiscated by customs in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence after raiding several tobacconists in the region on June 13. Less publicized than the seizures of drugs or weapons, the fight against counterfeiting remains a major challenge for customs officers placed under the direction of the Ministry of Public Accounts. Like every summer, for the past twenty years, it has joined forces with the Union of Manufacturers (Unifab) to carry out an awareness campaign on the dangers of this rapidly growing traffic. Started on July 11, it ends on Tuesday August 23.

This 2022 vintage will have been a “hit” according to the organizers, who are delighted to have been able to exchange with “200,000 people» and even much more if we count the internet campaign. A necessary work according to them,37% of people who bought counterfeits thought they were real“.

Summer propitious period to inform

“The goal is to take advantage of this time of year when people are more available to take the time to explain to them the extent and the dangers of counterfeit objects.“, we explain on the side of Unifab. Titled: “ Let’s be responsible, let’s consume authentic – Stop the counterfeiting that harms the planet », this awareness-raising work was carried out on the beaches and markets of the south of France. The location is not chosen at random: “We carry out actions from the Italian border to the Spanish border. This is often where counterfeit products circulate and at this time of year, these areas are much busier.“, details Unifab.

This year, the theme of ecology is highlighted. The counterfeit objects are often from the other side of the world, made in conditions that are little or not respectful of the environment and contain harmful products, we recall on the side of the organizers. But these products pose many other problems, particularly on the beaches where, seasonally, fake sunscreens are on the increase alongside pseudo luxury sunglasses. Not complying with standards, they can endanger the health and safety of those who use them. Not to mention the fiscal and economic social weight of this traffic. According to Unifab, the cost for France amounted to 38,000 jobs and 1.34 billion euros in uncollected taxes per year. “By believing that they are getting a good deal, the consumer participates indirectly and often without knowing it in the destruction of the planet.“, assures the Minister Delegate for Public Accounts Gabriel Attal, whose scope includes customs, at the origin of the interception of 95% of counterfeit products in France.

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An essential duty of awareness as the phenomenon explodes. According to the latest figures from French customs, published in February, 9.1 million counterfeit items were seized in 2021, up 40% compared to 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase is particularly strong on the internet, driven by the Covid epidemic which has prompted many still reluctant French people to embark on online purchases.

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