Counterfeit goods hit Germany: 8 billion euros lost every year!

Counterfeit goods hit Germany: 8 billion euros lost every year!

In Germany, one scandal follows the next, and while many of us suspect how widespread counterfeit goods are, the truth has taken on alarming dimensions. daily news reports that Germany is the largest destination for counterfeit products in the European Union. It is estimated that these counterfeits cause damage amounting to around 8 billion euros every year. A huge chunk of money that not only harms the brand companies, but also tens of thousands of jobs.

The numbers are striking: around 144,000 packages with counterfeit products reach the German borders every week. Large online platforms in particular are the main distribution channels for these fraudulent goods, where the inherent danger to consumers and the environment is often ignored. Products that not only disregard applicable environmental and labor standards, but also often pose health risks. This problem was recently also addressed by Brand Association which points out the dangers of counterfeit electrical appliances, toys and cosmetics.

The tip of the iceberg

The list of confiscated products is as diverse as it is shocking. According to Tagesschau, the most confiscated items in 2023 were CDs, DVDs and video games, which together accounted for around 33% of counterfeits, followed by toys (18%) and clothing (7.5%). What is particularly frightening is that only 0.7% of counterfeits ultimately end up in court. The Machinery market points out that more than 152 million counterfeit goods were seized at the EU's external borders in 2023, an increase of 77% compared to the previous year. The value of these goods shot up from around 2 billion euros in 2022 to around 3.4 billion euros in 2023. For German companies, the dark side of brand piracy is increasingly becoming a question of existence.

Commitment to better controls

There is resistance in politics. The German Trade Association (HDE) makes it clear that around 64,000 jobs are at risk. Together with the brand association, they are calling for stronger controls, more staff for customs and market surveillance and the abolition of the duty-free limit of 150 euros. Patrick Kammerer, the general manager of the brand association, emphasizes that creative solutions are needed to protect intellectual property significantly better. As a result, calls for an expansion of liability for online platforms are becoming increasingly louder - “stay-down orders” are intended to ensure that platform operators have to take more active action against counterfeits.

It remains to be seen whether these measures will be effective and whether consumers themselves will be informed about the risks of purchasing counterfeit goods. Education is particularly important because many young people fall for the lure of cheap offers. It is important to break the harmful cycle of brand piracy - and we can only do this together.