Dubai: The smuggling of counterfeit goods has dropped by almost 58 per cent between 2014 and 2015, according to the latest figures provided by Customs officials.
In contrast to 306 seizures of intellectual property-infringing goods by Dubai Customs in 2014, official figures showed that only 126 seizures were made in Dubai between January and November 2015, the Dubai Customs Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Department said.
Yousuf Ozair Mubarak, director of IPR department at Dubai Customs, said that the counterfeit goods seized covered a wide range of products from clothes, mobile phones and accessories to cigarettes and auto spare parts.
“The estimated value of seizures of counterfeit goods was Dh14.85 million in 2015 compared to 2014, which saw seizures worth more than Dh36 million,” he said. “In the past three years between 2012 and 2014 we have recorded over 82 seizures of counterfeit electronic goods worth Dh4.7 million.”
Mubarak said Dubai Customs plays a prime role in stopping the movement of fake goods and takes immediate action by destroying or recycling the seized goods and then fining the importer. After fining the importer, he said, the importer’s name gets listed in the Risk Engine at Dubai Customs to keep a close eye on his/her future shipments.
“Our ventures in IPR protection have contributed towards realising Dubai Customs’ vision of becoming the leading Customs administration in the world supporting legitimate trade. Each section of the department has different roles and takes on different tasks in combating the smuggling of counterfeit items and dealing with the seizures,” he said. He added that Customs inspectors are enrolled in workshops throughout the year, in coordination with brand owners and other concerned government authorities, to show them first-hand how to detect fake items.
Mubarak explained that when Customs inspectors detect counterfeits at any Customs point, the haul is dealt with as per Customs procedures, UAE laws and the Common Customs Law of the GCC States.
“There are two different scenarios when it comes to detecting shipments that contain counterfeit products, either through regular inspection that results in a suspicion of having counterfeit products or an official complaint lodged by the law firm or trademark owner about a shipment, which must be put on hold first to check the validity of the complaint.”
In both cases, if they find that the trademark is registered with the Ministry of Economy, seizure reports are issued and an immediate investigation begins. “During interrogation, if the company admits to counterfeiting, a decision is made by the Customs Cases and Investigation Department, but if the company smuggling the goods doesn’t admit to counterfeiting, a sample of the suspicious haul and an original sample of the product are sent to the lab to determine its authenticity. “If the suspicious sample is deemed not counterfeit, then the shipment is released at once,” he said.
“In case counterfeits are being circulated in the local market, the Department of Economic Development and Dubai Police take the proper action.”
Mubarak warned of the adverse risks of counterfeit goods, especially with the use of fake tyres and other auto spare parts. “Auto spare parts puts the lives of motorists and other passengers in the car at great risk, as a result of accidents that might occur due to sudden defects in these spare parts,” he said.
