21 June 2023
ACG Awards for Excellence 2023 Winners Announced
The ACG Awards for Excellence 2023 winners were announced at the CTSI's Annual Conference on Wednesday, June 21, where attendees celebrated the officers and departments that had gone above and beyond in enforcement against criminal counterfeiting measures and the transnational networks involved in this increasingly dangerous form of organised crime.
The Dave Hankinson Award for Individuals was presented to Dennis Chalmers and Darren Hughen from Rochdale Trading Standards, with Lesley Jenkins from Walsall Trading Standards receiving a Highly Commended Individual award. Rochdale Trading Standards also received a Special Commendation Award, while London Trading Standards and Scotland Trading Standards received Highly Commended Department awards.
Other Enforcement Awards were also presented, with June Rogers from the Dublin Mail Centre receiving a Special Commendation Award, and Robert Kennard from the IPO receiving a Highly Commended Individual award. Greater Manchester Police and East Midlands Border Force received Special Commendation and Highly Commended Departmental awards, respectively.
Phil Lewis Director General of the ACG says, “The recipients have provided excellence in combating counterfeiting, which is a crime that threatens businesses, and consumers. It destroys jobs and deprives our economy of much needed revenue for vital public services. ACG awards are made to thank individuals and departments that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to protect our prized businesses, our communities and our economy from the increasing dangers that organised criminal networks bring to the UK. The winners of the 2023 ACG Awards for Excellence are a testament to the power of collaboration and dedication in the fight against this ever-growing problem.”
A big thank you to our sponsors Wilsons Auction, Countercheck and Lighthouse Security.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact:
Stephanie Jackson, Events Manager: email events@a-cg.com or call 01494 449165
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. We help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. We have been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime.
About ACG Awards
The awards were introduced by ACG in 1994 to recognise some of excellent enforcement work that is taking place around the UK, to fight the trade in counterfeit goods. Candidates are nominated for three different categories; individual, department and special commendation and an awards panel determine the winners.
ACG Website:https://www.a-cg.org/
17 June 2022
Winners of the 2022 ACG Awards for Excellence Announced
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) has announced the winners of the 2022 ACG Awards for Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement at an event hosted by Phil Lewis, Director General at the ACG at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Conference in Bristol.
This year, winners of the ACG Awards were given their awards at a physical awards ceremony which was sponsored by WRi, Snapdragon Monitoring Ltd and Treasury Wine Estates.
The Dave Hankinson Memorial Award for Individual Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement was awarded to Marsha Bell from Salford Trading Standards, while the Trading Standards Department award was also awarded to Salford Trading Standards.
The Special Commendation Award for Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement for individual achievement were presented to Tony Cregan at the Police in Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) Northwest branch. The Special Commendation Award for departmental achievement went to Border Force International Trade Examinations Team at Tilbury.
Four ACG Special Awards went to: Trading Standards Scotland with special mention to Belinda Norton for their work in Operation Haugh; Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Intelligence Hub; Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN); and CENTSA Regional Investigations Team with special mention to Mohammed Tariq.
Director General of the ACG, Phil Lewis said “ The honours were made to Trading Standards, Border Force, and Police, who have provided an outstanding response to the growing global threat to business and consumers, from an escalating fake market, which includes medicines, toys, electrical goods and foodstuffs, and is now worth $464 billion worldwide.
The OECD has calculated that the UK market for fake goods is worth £16 billion and is roughly equivalent to the national drugs market, according to Dame Carol Black’s independent review in 2020. Moreover, the organised transnational gangs involved are draining the UK economy of essential revenue, which could be used for vital public services, but instead, it is falling into criminal hands and is driving insidious crimes including the trade of people, drugs and weapons.
The Annual ACG awards recognise the response made by our precious enforcement services, which are combating the growing threats from counterfeiting on a day-to-day basis, despite competing priorities and constrained resources.”
Highly Commended awards were given to Mohammed Tariq of Ealing Trading Standards and for the enforcement team at Ealing Trading Standards.
Additionally, Special Highly Commended awards were announced for Geoffrey Oulton at Gatwick Airport Border Force ad the team at Milton Keynes Border Force.
Natalie Ryan, ACG Events Manager said “it was important for the ACG to organise a ceremony and drinks reception for the winners after all their hard work over the past year. Their dedication to protecting IP rights does not go unnoticed and this is a way for the ACG on behalf of their members and enforcement colleagues to say thank you”.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact:
Natalie Ryan, Events Manager: emailnatalie@a-cg.com or call 01494 449165
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. We help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. We have been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime.
About ACG Awards
The awards were introduced by ACG in 1994 to recognise some of excellent enforcement work that is taking place around the UK, to fight the trade in counterfeit goods. Candidates are nominated for three different categories; individual, department and special commendation and an awards panel determine the winners.
ACG Website:https://www.a-cg.org/
ACG Press Kit:https://t.co/x13HCX8BLl?amp=1
9 March 2021
Pandemic causes Big Increase in Counterfeiting Crime across the UK & Europe
Director General, Phil Lewis reflects that during the height of the pandemic, criminal networks made huge profits from counterfeiting and used the money to feed other forms of criminal activity.
The latest Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment, produced by Europol and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), backs this up, revealing that the distribution of counterfeit goods thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IP Crime Threat Assessment by Europol and the EUIPO highlight huge increases of imported healthcare products from China, which grew by 900% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 2019 and criminals exploited this momentum. The pandemic also accelerated e-commerce and between 2018 and 2020 online retail sales increased by 41%. According to the report counterfeit and pirated goods in the EU now have an estimated value of a staggering 119 billion Euros, representing up to 5.8 % of all imports.
On the day of the publication of the Anti-Counterfeit Group’s (ACG) Annual Report, Mr Lewis confirms that the pandemic restrictions resulted in a huge shift towards online shopping. Transnational criminals were quick to realise the new opportunities and swiftly intensified the manufacture and production of fakes to meet growing demand from consumers who became ever more confident buying online. Unfortunately, many of these purchases were found to be dangerous fake products, which increasingly threaten the health and safety of families and businesses across the world.
He adds that, “Despite the obvious threats, restrictions, and interruptions, ACG and its partners have worked even more diligently to combat the dangers, to help protect our members and society in general.”
Highlights of the report show that the ACG has been productive in 2021. We have been involved in 52 raid actions, seizing over 11 million pounds worth of goods. Plus we have generated 56 global and stakeholder partnerships including companies like Facebook and Amazon, where we have taken down thousands of fake websites.
In 2022 and beyond ACG will continue to protect and guard our precious innovative and creative assets that are so vital for our economic recovery and continued prosperity.
For more information on how the Anti-Counterfeiting Group has been helping to combat counterfeiting crime take a look at the ACG annual report here.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact:
Aimee Orr, ACG Communications and Events Manager: email aimee@a-cg.com or call 01494 449165
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. We help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. We have been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime.
Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment 2022: https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/publications/intellectual-property-crime-threat-assessment-2022
ACG Website:https://www.a-cg.org/
19 November 2021
Social media: Operation MONTY keeps shoppers and businesses safe from counterfeit goods in the run up to the festive season!
The National Markets Group for IP Protection (NMG), a multi-agency focus group aimed at reducing the availability of counterfeit goods at physical markets and online, is warning consumers to watch out for fake, and potentially dangerous goods, that may appear on social media in the run up to the festive shopping season.
With Black Friday fast approaching and consumers vying for bargains, traders in counterfeit goods are looking to exploit the retail shift to on-line buying by attempting to offer often dangerous, counterfeit goods on social media platforms.
‘’Counterfeiters operating on social media draw in unsuspecting consumers, using well-known brand names, to sell their illicit goods” said Graham Mogg, Intelligence Co-Ordinator at the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) and Chair of the NMG.
“This criminal activity undermines the fabric of society, robbing legitimate business of their income, placing consumers at risk and funds serious and organised crime. A whole range of counterfeit products including clothing, footwear, accessories, watches and even potentially dangerous goods such as toys, cosmetics, perfumes and electrical goods are being offered on these platforms’’
Operation MONTY, a collaborative enforcement campaign coordinated by the NMG, is currently underway, with its industry members, including the Anti-Counterfeiting Group. British Recorded Music Industry, Design and Artists Copyright Society, Association of Photographers and others reporting over 400 on-line traders to Instagram for removal and take-down.
The operation is made possible with collaboration from Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta), UK Intellectual Property Office’s Intelligence Hub, National Trading Standards e-Crime Team and Trading Standards authorities.
The Intellectual Property Office’s Chief Executive Tim Moss said:
“Criminal networks are targeting online platforms to deceive consumers into buying counterfeit goods. This undermines legitimate sellers and causes harm to individuals and communities. We are really pleased to be part of Operation Monty and work with our partner organisations to raise awareness of this issue and disrupt IP crime.”
Mike Andrews, Lead Coordinator at the National Trading Standards eCrime Team said: "Counterfeit goods harm consumers, damage legitimate businesses and fund organised crime. Our partnership will crack down on criminals who hide behind social media, ensuring consumers have a safer and happier Christmas."
Patricia Lennon, Campaign Manager of the Real Deal Campaign for Fake-Free Markets, which includes online and social media marketplaces as well as physical markets and car boot fairs, said: “Collaborative approaches on intellectual property protection are a positive way forward, bringing together key partners from different sectors who share a common interest in protecting consumers and supporting legitimate businesses’’
Meta takes intellectual property rights, including issues concerning counterfeits, extremely seriously and applies a variety of measures to action violating content. As Mark Fiore, Meta’s Director & Associate General Counsel, IP, shared, “A key aspect of our program involves engaging directly with rights holders to learn about the issues they’re facing and to work together on developing solutions. We rely on our deep and trusted partnerships with them in order to find the right approach.” More information about how Meta protects intellectual property can be found in this anti-counterfeiting guide in its Business Help Center and this Newsroom Post.
NMG and Meta greatly value this productive collaboration.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact:
NMG
Graham Mogg (Chair) graham.mogg@a-cg.com - 07508 542496
Gavin Terry (Vice Chair) gavin.terry@gmx.com – 07732 394879
Real Deal Charter – www.realdealmarkets.co.uk
Patricia Lennon (Campaign Manager) - info@realdealmarkets.co.uk - 01943 609247
The National Markets Group
National Markets Group for IP protection (NMG) was established in 2008 to provide a forum for a national, co-ordinated, cross-sector approach to tackle the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods at markets and car boot fairs. In 2017, the NMG added online and social media platforms to its portfolio of work.
Members of the National Markets Group include law enforcement, industry and government agencies working collaboratively to reduce the threat to legitimate business and consumers from IP crime
The NMG operates the Real Deal and Real Deal online initiatives, which are preventative campaigns focused on supporting Trading Standards, market operators and social media administrators to maintain a fake-free and safe environment for businesses and consumers.
2 November 2021
Supply Chain Issues and Toying with Fakes Causes Harm to Families
This “Black Friday” could see shoppers land incredible bargains as they shop for online deals in readiness for Christmas. But will they potentially be running a risk of harming their families?
Transnational criminals are fully aware that cash is less available this year and that supply chains have already been disrupted, resulting in shipments queuing at UK ports. As a result, the congestion is likely to mean that parents could find it far more difficult to ensure that their children get their much longed for favourite toys this Christmas.
Unfortunately, counterfeiters will be ahead of the criminal queue, by readying themselves to supply fake products, at discounted prices, online.
The threat was evident during the height of the pandemic, when reports revealed that global counterfeiting gangs were already stockpiling cheap and dangerous versions of popular goods. These stocks are about to flood the UK market. Using sophisticated looking web site stores, e-commerce platforms, auction sites and social media there will be tempting offers that could endanger families more than ever before.
The British Toy and Hobby Association recently published a study report, which confirmed that 88% of toys tested were illegal for sale in the UK and that 48% were clearly unsafe for children. These dangerous and non-compliant toys can result in injuries, including choking, strangulation, damage to sight or hearing, burns, chemical poisoning and electric shocks.
But the dangers don’t stop there. Online payments are also a primary target for criminals, who have no morals or conscience and care nothing about people’s vulnerabilities. Their sales techniques are extremely credible, using false details, accounts, and customer reviews to convince susceptible consumers into buying their cheap junk. They are also after consumers’ bank details and identities to take over their bank accounts, get new credit cards, state benefits, driving licenses and passports.
Counterfeiters thrive when supply chains are disrupted, and money is tight. For them, the current climate is too good to be true and consumers need to be extra careful when buying online this year, to avoid the threat of dangerous fake goods and the possibility of associated identify theft.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group is advising consumers to
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact:
Aimee Orr, ACG Communications Manager: email aimee@a-cg.com or call 01494 449165
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. We help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. We have been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime.
ACG Website:https://www.a-cg.org/
ACG Press Kit:https://t.co/x13HCX8BLl?amp=1
Still Toying with Children’s safety (British Toy & Hobby Association Report): https://toysafety.co.uk/
ACG Consumer Advice: https://www.a-cg.org/consumer-advice
18 Ocotber 2021
AMAZON: Driving Counterfeits to Zero
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) welcomes Amazon’s commitment in their new Policy Position Paper
This week, Amazon published a “Policy Position Paper” setting out its commitment to address the marketing and sales of counterfeit products across its platforms. Amazon’s aims are to “drive counterfeits to zero” and ACG welcomes this compelling commitment.
Amazon is championing a framework that targets the growing threats that counterfeiting brings to UK consumers, business and the economy. The aim is to introduce better exchanges of information to block counterfeiting at earlier stages and stop fake products at our borders. Amazon will also help to raise greater public awareness and increase resources for law enforcement, which will facilitate the identification and prosecution of counterfeiters.
Counterfeiting poses serious and increasing risks to UK business and consumers. The market for fake products in the UK is worth over £16 billion which results in lost revenues of over £4 billion which could be used to build our economy and public services, instead it is falling into the hands of international criminals who are using the money to seed fund other forms of illicit trade in people drugs and weapons. What’s more is that the last customs report, published before the UK left the EU identified that over 37% of fake goods detained at the borders were dangerous to consumers.
Phil Lew, Director General of the ACG greatly welcomes this developed Amazon strategy. ACG is already working with Amazon to stop the flood of counterfeit goods from entering UK and international markets. Working together, over the past year, ACG and Amazon have developed even closer working relationships, which have built greater knowledge and awareness about how counterfeiters work and how they can be prevented from abusing systems to market their increasingly dangerous goods.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. We help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. We have been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime.
ACG Website:https://www.a-cg.org/
ACG Press Kit:https://t.co/x13HCX8BLl?amp=1
11 August 2021
Winners of the 2021 ACG Awards for Excellence Announced
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) has announced the winners of the 2021 ACG Awards for Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement at an event hosted by Phil Lewis, Director General at the ACG and Dave Riley, Programme Manager with National Trading Standards and sponsored by Proctor & Gamble, Snapdragon Monitoring and Bio-Oil. The presentations are available to watch on the ACG YouTube channel https://youtu.be/FLWwL4gd89g
This year, winners of the ACG Awards were announced at a virtual event. The Dave Hankinson Memorial Award for Individual Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement was awarded to Marsha Bell from Salford Trading Standards, while the Trading Standards Department award was awarded to Central England Trading Standards Authorities Regional Investigations Team (CEnTSA RIT), Birmingham Trading Standards and National Trading Standards Intelligence Team.
The Special Commendation Awards for Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement were presented to Geoff Oulton at Gatwick Border Force and Crime Freight and People Command at Heathrow Border Force.
Three ACG special awards went to: Hertfordshire Trading Standards with a mention to Mark Kempster and Joanne Hayes; Ealing Trading Standards with a mention to Mohammed Tariq and Brian Gohery; and Manchester City Council Trading Standards with a mention to Matthew Knowles.
“Over the past 18 months the COVID pandemic has brought despair and distress to millions of people in the UK. This and the combined pressures of rebuilding our economy and preparing the country for our exit from the EU have brought new and incessant challenges for those in enforcement. Trading Standards, Police and Border Force have stood tall and worked conscientiously to combat criminals who have sought to prey on people’s weaknesses and anxieties. Through our annual awards, ACG is delighted to applaud the work they have done in unrelenting circumstances”, commented Lewis.
Individual Highly Commended awards were announced for Lara Mason of Lancashire Trading Standards, Mohammed Tariq of Birmingham and Ealing Trading Standards, a Trading Standards Officer (who wishes to remain anonymous) from Cheshire East Trading Standards, Daryl Fryatt of City of London Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) and Stephen Fahey of An Garda Siochána.
Highly Commended awards for enforcement teams went to Lancashire Trading Standards, the Partnership Enforcement Team at Rochdale Trading Standards, Cheshire West and Cheshire Trading Standards with a special mention to Chris Jeffs, Border Force East Midlands Airport Freight Team, Border Force North West Intel Team, Customs IPR Unit at Dublin Airport, International Trade Exam Team Thames Command at Tilbury Port, North West PIPCU, City of London PIPCU and Southampton Law Enforcement International Trade team, Docks team and Compliance team.
Additionally, Commended awards were announced for James Brewster of UK Border Force, Peter Gartland of City of London PIPCU, Peter Sherlock of the IPR Approvals team (HMRC) and a Police Office (who wishes to remain anonymous) from City of London PIPCU.
“The awards underline the commitment that Trading Standards teams across the UK continue to have in taking appropriate enforcement action where the sale of fake goods is uncovered. It particularly demonstrates the dedication that is needed by different agencies and individuals in tackling organised criminality of this nature. I am always impressed with the level of cooperation between the public and private sectors without which local, regional and national Trading Standards teams would not be able to achieve these successes”, added Riley.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact: Carol Levin, Communications Manager: email carol@a-cg.com or 01494 449165
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) The ACG represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. It helps steer effective policy, promote evidenced-based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. ACG has been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime https://www.a-cg.org/
ACG Awards The awards were introduced by ACG in 1994 to recognise some of excellent enforcement work that is taking place around the UK, to fight the trade in counterfeit goods. Candidates are nominated for three different categories; individual, department and special commendation and an awards panel determine the winners. Event recording https://youtu.be/FLWwL4gd89g
Procter & Gamble (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods company with brands such as Pampers, Ariel and Gillette https://www.pg.co.uk/
Snapdragon Monitoring tackle online sales of counterfeit goods using registered IP, specialising in the SME marketplace https://snapdragon-ip.com/
Bio-Oil researches and develops specialist skincare products, using oil to achieve superior product performance https://www.bio-oil.com/en
26 March 2021
Social media: Operation CLOVER takes down prolific traders in counterfeit goods this Easter
As COVID19 restrictions ease in the UK, shoppers are not only looking to buy chocolate eggs over the holiday but also gifts for their family or friends.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG), Facebook and the UK Intellectual Property Office’s Intelligence Hub are joining forces in another collaborative campaign, Operation CLOVER, to take down online traders of counterfeit products, which are impacting ACG member brands and misleading consumers. “Traders in counterfeit goods are using prestigious brand names to sell illicit and potentially dangerous products online,” said Phil Lewis, the group’s Director General.
Following the success of Operation Carol in November 2020, all three organisations are partnering once again to protect the interests of consumers and legitimate businesses that are struggling to survive in these difficult times.
“Despite the easing of restrictions, COVID19 continues to have a profound effect on the retail sector. With many shops still closed, shoppers have instead gone online to buy their gifts, and sellers have jumped in to meet that demand. Disreputable sellers are trading from their homes and garages, selling fake items bearing well established global brand names, including potentially unsafe electrical goods, toys, cosmetics, perfume, clothing, trainers and handbags.”
Consumers should be extremely vigilant and check that any product they buy online is from a reputable source. If they are suspicious about goods being potentially counterfeit, they should report them as quickly as possible.
Graham Mogg, Intelligence coordinator at the ACG said, “We're targeting traders that are deceiving shoppers by selling counterfeit goods online. These fakes are likely to be poorly made, poorly finished and more likely to be unsafe. That’s why we’ve been working with Facebook to remove listings of potentially counterfeit goods. We want to help protect innocent individuals who are shopping online and simply looking for an Easter bargain.”
“ACG is very grateful to Facebook and the IPO Intelligence Hub for their support. Certainly, without them this operation wouldn’t have been possible.’’
Facebook takes intellectual property rights, including issues concerning counterfeits, seriously and has put in place a variety of measures to address these issues. More information about how Facebook protects intellectual property can be found in this anti-counterfeiting guide in its Business Help Center.
ACG, Facebook and the Intelligence Hub greatly value this productive collaboration.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact: Carol Levin, ACG Communications Manager: email carol@a-cg.com or call 01494 449165
Current Position
11 March 2021
Planned freeports will make the UK an easy target for criminals
Freeports and Single Trade zones increase counterfeiting by 6%
Anti-counterfeiting champions the ACG are warning about the dangers of criminal activity and illicit trade at the proposed new Freeport’s in the UK. The Chancellor has announced plans to establish eight new regional Freeports in the UK, and two more may be on the way.
While the announcement is welcome news for the economy as we enter a new era of international trade after leaving the European Union. The Anti- Counterfeiting Group (ACG) warns that the misuse of freeports in a wide range of other countries has led to serious increases in illicit trade, including counterfeit goods, drug trafficking, corruption and money laundering. In fact, Free Trade Zones are amplifiers of illicit trade as they lie outside the home country’s jurisdiction. They are often “lightly regulated” and as such are attractive to illegal groups and activities.
Many business leaders argue that new freeports could lead to thousands of new jobs. The investment also has the potential to cut the cost of customs controls, alongside lower customs duties and taxes. But Phil Lewis from the ACG warns that “Unless enforcement and policing is strong at Free Trade Zones they run a severe risk of becoming transit points and complex distribution centres for the trade in counterfeit goods. These zones can facilitate the export of fakes by concealing and disguising consignments of counterfeit products through mixed shipments and false transport documentation.”
In the past, customs officials have closed Free Trade Zone factories found to be producing counterfeits. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also reported that the addition of a single trade zone within an economy significantly increases counterfeiting by 6%. The risks raised by OECD and other respected bodies, including the World Customs Organization (WCO), led to the European Parliament calling for the abolition of freeports in the EU.
ACG believes that simply cutting red tape to boost jobs and reduce business taxes and customs controls does not lead to more protected borders.
The global trade in counterfeit goods is now worth more than $509 billion. It is destroying businesses, economies and is threatening consumers’ lives through the trade of dangerous fake goods. The recent pandemic has thrown a clear light on the scope and scale of criminality involved. The ease with which counterfeit face masks, sanitisers, remedies, medical equipment and even fake vaccines have reached the UK.
UK businesses and consumers need solid reassurance that the UK government has clear plans in place to prevent more illicit and dangerous goods from arriving in the country. The ACG calls for assurances that there will be effective detection systems at these new freeports, including specialised officers, modern technology, to assist surveillance, inspections and preventative customs controls. Otherwise, the only people taking control of our borders will be international criminals.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact:
Carol Levin, ACG Communications Manager: email carol@a-cg.com or call 01494 449165
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. We help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. We have been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime.
ACG Website:https://www.a-cg.org/
22 February 2021
Criminal gangs target UK ports with large shipments of fake goods
56% of all counterfeit goods seized are transported by sea.
International organised crime groups are targeting UK harbours to transport massive volumes of counterfeit goods, which are destroying our high streets and jobs, and threatening the health and safety of consumers.
On 22 February, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Intellectually Property Office (EUIPO) published a joint report on the growing worldwide risks from container shipments of fake goods arriving by sea, into Europe.
The report warns that, despite the COVID-19 crisis, which has affected normal trade routes, it has stimulated a huge rise in small packages of counterfeit items arriving in the UK, due to more online buying. Maritime trade has continued to thrive and is providing colossal income for global international crime groups.
This has become a major “two-fold” problem for UK Border Force and inland enforcement authorities, as the scope and scale of international criminal counterfeiting continues to grow.
Maritime container shipping has always been the universal way to move huge volumes of goods around the world and while the OECD-EUIPO data shows that the highest number of customs actions were taken to stop small parcels of counterfeits, 56% of all articles seized were transported by sea. European-wide market surveillance reports have also revealed that over 90% of fake goods seized inland, are now dangerous.
The highest number of counterfeit shipments originate in East Asia, with China and
Hong Kong (China) ranked at the top of the list. However, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are also significant shippers. All target UK ports with Felixstowe third on the list of European destinations. Southampton and London also appear in the top 20.
The Anti-Counterfeit Group (ACG) has warned that planned infrastructure developments in European ports, as a result of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative, could further accelerate the growth of fakes entering Europe in container ships.
Phil Lewis, ACG’s Director General warns “Huge sums of money are falling into criminals’ hands from this massive trade, which could be used to re-build our economy, protect consumers and businesses, and support vital public services.
“The ACG calls on UK Government to target our enforcement resources to combat this largely overlooked form of international criminality and to take extra care in signing trade deals with countries, which have little respect for our prized business assets or the safety of consumers.”
OECD/EUIPO Report: Misuse of Containerised Maritime Shipping
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Contact:
Carol Levin, ACG Communications Manager: email carol@a-cg.com or call 01494 449165
Current Position
19 February 2021
UK consumers lack protection from dangerous counterfeit products
Over the past ten years e-commerce fraud has risen by a staggering 49.6% yet the Government are still failing to do enough to protect the public from these fraudsters.
With the current pandemic increasing the risk of UK consumers being targeted by fraudsters selling fake products, especially items which could endanger lives, The ACG (Anti-Counterfeiting Group) is lobbying the Government to ensure the UK public is protected to the same standard as the US and EU.
The Online Harms White paper, delivered to Parliament in December does nothing to recognise the growing threat of dangerous counterfeit goods. The Government has constantly refused to accept the argument that counterfeiting is now a health and safety threat, despite the appearance of fake anti-COVID vaccines, remedies and medical equipment.
As the Government continues to roll out their vaccination programme more and more Covid-19 listings are appearing with a recent study revealing almost 650 listings in one day for counterfeit vaccines on 12 separate dark web sites. The City of London's Police IP Crime Unit (PIPCU), have recently charged a fraudster, claiming to work for the NHS, who injected a 92-year-old woman with fake COVID-19 serum.
With consumers currently being forced to buy more online fraudsters are using increasingly innovative techniques to trick buyers into parting with their money such as, paid influencers, bogus reviews, convincing packaging, sponsored and sham social media reports, that disappear after 24 hours. Moreover, the use of encrypted instant messaging tools and trusted payment methods like Paypal gives direct access to consumers. In one month alone, Google blocked and removed 2.7 billion ads, that is 5,000 bad ads per minute.
Phil Lewis, from the ACG, says, "The development of an online harms regime is the perfect opportunity to put measures in place to protect members of the public from counterfeiters and the dangerous goods they sell, that can put consumers out of pocket but also damage their health."
"We are being left behind when it comes to legislation. The US and EU are forging ahead with important steps to protect consumers and businesses from the growing dangers of counterfeiting and illicit trade. While the European Commission's draft Digital Services Act sets it sights on giving e-commerce platforms greater responsibility to proactively screen and prevent the sale of counterfeit goods from appearing on their sites, the US INFORM Act also aims to build greater transparency by improving processes to check the validity of third-party sellers."
The UK is the 5th largest consumer market globally and is hugely attractive to counterfeiters. Now more than ever it is time for the UK to follow the US and EU lead and ensure that consumers and business are protected online from the selling of dangerous fakes in the same way that they protected from physical markets and retail sellers. The Digital Harms Bill is an easy way of helping to do this.
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Media enquiries – contact
ACG Communications Manager, Carol Levin
01494 449165 / carol@a-cg.com
Notes to Editors:
1 September 2020
Is the UK still a world leader in tackling intellectual property crime?
Six years ago, the UK was considered a world leader in protecting intellectual property rights, but has it kept pace with modern day counterfeiting and organised crime? Many experts believe it hasn’t and that the UK is in fact, falling behind other countries.
“The UK’s number one accolade was largely thanks to the work of the Intellectual Property Office. It put effective and strong measures in place for IP (intellectual property) protection and enforcement” commented Phil Lewis, Director General at the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG), the UK’s leading anti-counterfeiting organisation.
“But there’s a growing call for government accountability and transparency. The UK urgently needs safeguards that will protect businesses and consumers and the only way to shape those is by engaging with all relevant stakeholders. Other countries have done this and that’s why they’re overtaking the UK” Lewis continued.
In the US there have been a series of announcements which clearly demonstrate President Trump’s desire to tackle counterfeiting. In April, he issued a Memorandum on Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods and prompted the US Department for Homeland Security, responsible for public security to produce a plan to stop counterfeiting at source and involve private-sector stakeholders.
Later in July, further US legislation was introduced to fight the online sale of stolen, counterfeit and dangerous consumer products. The Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM) Act directs online platforms to authenticate the identity of their third-party sellers of consumer products. This legislation will enable consumers to distinguish genuine retailers more easily from fraudsters and prevent organised retail crime operations.
In addition, US Customs and Border Protection are introducing new rules that forces foreign importers to provide key information that will assist the enforcement agency in identifying shipments of counterfeit goods.
These safeguards are necessary because the growth of e-commerce is providing counterfeiters with a greater opportunity to sell unsafe and unregulated products to businesses and consumers. The global trade in fake goods continues to grow (estimated at over $5 billion) as the criminals seek to make huge profits that help to fund organised criminal activities.
“The INFORM Consumers Act will provide much needed transparency of online marketplaces,” said TRACIT Director General Jeffrey Hardy. “If platforms like Amazon and eBay start improving the verification of third-party sellers, then they’ll be taking a giant step in protecting consumers from fraud, counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade.”
A similar move has been made by the European Union, who are forging ahead of the UK with a Digital Services Act drafted by the European Commission. Its aim is to compel social media and other platforms to remove illegal content or face the threat of sanctions. E-commerce platforms will be directed to introduce more proactive screening, to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods. The Act will be the first in the world to oversee content on digital platforms and the legislation may be established as early as the end of the year.
“The Digital Services Act is the perfect opportunity to lay out a clear legal framework so that platforms in Europe play their fair part in addressing the issue of illegal products sold online” commented Michelle Gibbons, Director General of AIM, the European Brands Association. “Too many consumers are being scammed, too many businesses face the effects of unfair competition by non-compliant products, too much is lost in tax revenue. It’s time for everyone to step up and take responsibility for taking these goods off the European market.”
“UK Government hasn’t been idle. It has introduced several policy initiatives to improve the protection of consumers, business and the economy from the impact of counterfeiting” explained Lewis.
“But unlike the US Government which sees integration with all business sectors as paramount, the UK has blocked brands and designers from participating in key programs and failed to fully acknowledge the growing threat to consumers and business from unsafe counterfeit goods. For example, the Government’s delayed Online Harms Bill, which focuses on the protection, safety and well-being of individual users, has excluded the online sale of dangerous fakes.”
Brands and designers contribute 39% to UK employment and 26% of the overall GDP and yet they have been excluded from almost every aspect of the Creative Industries: Sector Deal round table initiative, which is considering new Codes of Practice for social media and online marketplaces.
“These initiatives could potentially restore the UK’s position as the top country for IP protection and enforcement, but we still need a collaborative national response to counterfeiting which is an insidious and growing threat. Now we look to be falling behind” said Dids Macdonald OBE, Chief Executive of ACID (Anti Copying In Design) Ltd.
The overall concern is that, if the UK government continually fails to recognise the opportunities that e-commerce has given counterfeiters and it then continues to restrict the prospect of brands and designers contributing to develop cohesive strategies, it will not only fail to rebuild the UK economy but will open itself up to new threats.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Current Position
• In 2019 the OECD and European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) reported that the global trade in fake goods is now worth $509 billion.
• Almost 7% of products imported into Europe are counterfeit.
• Fake goods imported to the UK are worth almost £14 billion and result in losses of £4 billion in revenue to the retail and wholesale sector.
• EU customs revealed that over 34% of detained articles were potentially dangerous to the health and safety of consumers.
• Operating behind sophisticated looking sales sites and using legitimate social media and e-commerce platforms, counterfeiters use fake trademarks, brands and certification labels to entice customers into thinking they are buying genuine, safe, products.
About
1. The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG): The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) represents the voice of business in shaping an effective deterrent to counterfeiting in the UK. We help to steer effective policy, promote evidenced based actions, empower multi-agency partnerships and strengthen international collaboration. We have been working since 1980 to raise awareness of this serious organised crime.
2. The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) is a private sector initiative to mitigate the economic and social damages of illicit trade by strengthening government enforcement mechanisms and integrating supply chain controls across industry sectors most impacted by illicit trade.
3. AIM (Association des Industries de Marque) is the European Brands Association, representing manufacturers of branded consumer goods in Europe on key issues which affect their ability to design, distribute and market their brands.
4. ACID (Anti Copying in Design Ltd) is the UK’s leading design and intellectual property campaigning organisation. It is a trade association for designers and manufacturers and aims to provide cost effective tips, advice and guidelines.
16 June 2020
Counterfeiting drives threat from serious and organised crime
Europol and the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have joined forces to publish a case book report, which clearly proves the links between counterfeiting, serious and organised crime and other forms of international criminal activity.
The study brings together clear cases where money laundering, document fraud, cybercrime, fake drug production, trafficking and terrorism have been supported by profits derived from the sale of fake goods on our streets and markets.
Employing forced labour and the same routes and forged documentation used for other menacing forms of illicit trafficking, organised crime groups are drawing draw vast amounts of unaccountable cash to fuel international crime.
Phil Lewis, Director General of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) explains that this joint report finally puts the myth to bed that counterfeiting is a low-level crime, which harms no one.
“International crime gangs are devastating our businesses, jobs and our economies. But more than this they are using the cash they make to threaten our families and communities by selling flammable clothing, fake medicines, food, alcohol, toys and a growing range of hazardous household products.
This has never been more illuminated than in the current pandemic crisis, when counterfeiters have been selling useless fake face masks, testing kits and even virus remedies.
They have no moral conscience and are using our money to fund transnational crime. Instead our money should be being used to properly protect our communities, to re-build our economies and support vital public services”.
ENDS
Media enquiries – contact
ACG Communications Manager, Carol Levin
01494 449165 / carol@a-cg.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Current Position
9 June 2020
Manchester shops defied the law
Shops in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester opened despite the restrictions in place on non-essential retailers and have been selling potentially dangerous products.
All non-essential shops were forced to close after the government announced lockdown measures on 23 March, to stop the virus spreading.
Despite these restrictions around 55 retail shops in Cheetham Hill opened their doors to sell counterfeit goods as well as fake COVID-19 related products such as facial coverings and hand sanitisers.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) warned "These traders aren’t concerned about social distancing or protecting the public. They have been ignoring the law and the products they sell will undoubtably put individuals and families at risk. We urge everyone to stop buying fake goods, especially at a time when the economy is struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic”
In the last month, ACG has contacted several senior politicians including Priti Patel Secretary of State for the Home Department, Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Labour Policy Forum as well as enforcement officers to highlight the problems in Manchester and the impact this illicit trade has on the economy and peoples’ jobs. It is estimated that fake goods divert up to £4 billion from legitimate businesses and public services.
Phil Lewis, Director General at the ACG said: " Our member brands, Trading Standards and Police have been fighting to close these units for some time now. It is a complex network of criminals and they are well entrenched.
“It’s great to see that Greater Manchester Police and partners have acted on information provided by ACG and issued prohibition notices to inform local businesses and counterfeit retailers of their responsibility to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but it’s now time for the politicians to step up and take decisive action to rid us of this counterfeiting scourge, which is openly destroying prized businesses.
“Failing to do this will have a huge impact on any efforts to re-build our economy.”
ENDS
Media enquiries – contact
ACG Communications Manager, Carol Levin
01494 449165 / carol@a-cg.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Current Position
About the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG)
For more information go to the ACG website https://www.a-cg.org/ and for a list of brands that are members of the ACG go to https://www.a-cg.org/membership/full-members
21 May 2020
Reluctance to seek medical care drives counterfeit medicine
People are buying prescription-based medicines over the internet rather than seek medical advice says Phil Lewis, Director General of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG).
GPs have seen a dramatic fall in patients making appointments for routine consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. NHS Digital data shows the total number of appointments recorded in GP practice systems fell from 6 million at the beginning of March to 4.25 million by the end of the month – a reduction of almost 30%.
ACG, one of the world’s leading anti-counterfeiting organisations, is concerned that people have been less inclined to consult their doctors on normal health issues and have taken to the internet to self-medicate.
“This has happened at a time when large organised gangs, operating across the world have turned their attention to online crime” said Mr Lewis.
“They use sophisticated websites, social media and e-commerce platforms to advertise products using fake trademarks, brand names and certification labels to try and convince customers they’re buying genuine, safe products.
“The reality is quite different. These predatory criminals have set out to dupe consumers into buying fake and unregulated medicines, which could easily maim and endanger their lives.” &
ACG represents more than 3,000 brands affected by this influx of fakes into the UK and delivers an international network of information, advice and contacts on all aspects of IP protection. Working with Government and law enforcement agencies since 1980, ACG is focused on providing an effective and sustained response to counterfeiting.
Membership with the ACG is the best way to work with government and enforcement bodies to protect your brand. Our Roadshows and training days help you reach out to police, trading standards and border force officers and tell them about your genuine products.