Dh63 million fake products seized in Dubai

Dubai - At least 25 million counterfeit products are seized in UAE every year.

Dubai Customs has foiled 340 attempts to smuggle fake goods, worth Dh63 million, in the last 15 months. These include 68 seizures in the first quarter of this year, said Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs.
"The competent staff of Dubai Customs seized up to 23,000 duplicate products of 16 trademarks, valued at Dh11 million, over the period from January 1 to March 31 this year."
As many as 272 attempts to smuggle counterfeit products, worth Dh52 million, were foiled in 2018, he said, adding, "Fake goods are harmful to the environment and dangerous to all users".
Hatem Abdelghani, director of Intellectual Property Department at Legal Group, earlier told Khaleej Times that at least 25 million counterfeit products are seized in UAE every year.
"Cosmetics and body care products top the list of fake items seized," he said, urging the public to know their rights when purchasing a product.
These seizures reflect Dubai Customs' efforts to protect intellectual property right (IPR), and the UAE's commitment to the Intellectual Property Organisation it joined in 1975, Musabih underlined.
"Protecting intellectual property rights is a strict prerequisite to any development project and is even so as we gear up to ensure a successful hosting of World Expo 2020 in Dubai."
Dubai Customs has organised 46 workshops in cooperation with trademark owners to acquaint our inspectors and customs staff with latest counterfeiting techniques and tricks, he stated.
Dubai Customs also reinforced cooperation with the Brand Owners Protections Group. "This cooperation has recently resulted in the recycling of 17.91 million fake goods of famous trademarks."
Musabih said Dubai Customs' IPR awareness and education efforts focus primarily on the younger generations to raise their awareness around the hazards of counterfeit products. "Our efforts in this respect include the launch of the IP Award for Schools and Universities. Since its launch in 2007, the award has seen participation of over 198,000 students from 172 schools and 30 universities."
hmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com