The Watch List aims to encourage the operators of these marketplaces, local enforcement authorities and governments to take action to crack down on intellectual property abuse. It also aims at making EU citizens aware of the environmental, product safety and other risks of purchasing from problematic markets.
Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: “Intellectual property infringements are a scourge on the European economy, decreasing investment and government revenues, and killing jobs in our creative and innovative industries. They also pose a significant risk to our citizens who often simply do not know whether what they are buying is safe or not. Furthermore, the link between counterfeiting and organised crime poses a major threat to our society. This Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List is part of our broader effort to ensure that European companies can operate on a level playing field when trading outside the EU’s borders, and that EU consumers are safe.”
The Watch List has four focus areas: websites providing copyright-protected content, e-commerce platforms, online pharmacies as well as physical marketplaces. A specific chapter is devoted to online pharmacies in order to highlight the growing problem of fake medicines sold on the internet and the health risks to citizens.
The list is the result of the input received during a public consultation process in which respondents reported a number of websites and physical marketplaces that allegedly engage in, facilitate or benefit from counterfeiting and piracy. The Watch List pays particular attention to online markets.
According to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the OECD, trade in counterfeit and pirated products amounts annually to around €338 billion worldwide. The European Union is particularly affected, with counterfeit and pirated products amounting up to around 5% of all imports or as much as €85 billion a year.
Counterfeit products can be found in pharmaceutical, health and beauty products, in the engineering and technology sectors, with non-genuine car parts and counterfeit machinery; as well as in farming, with counterfeit pesticides that often contain toxic substances that may contaminate soil, water and food. In addition, piracy is a huge problem for the EU’s creative industries. Illegally available content undermines creators, artists and other content producers by depriving them of the income they need to sustain their work.
