ICCE and its members have taken effective action in 2022 to combat the trade in counterfeit imaging consumables, the association reports.
In 2022, ICCE and its members have thwarted counterfeiting schemes on a massive scale across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. ICCE said in its blog post: “We worked with online marketplaces to remove tens of thousands of infringing listings. And we partnered with law enforcement agencies through a series of special training sessions and events – and supported them to remove huge quantities of illegal products from the markets before they could be sold to unsuspecting customers.
“For 2023, we are continuing our dedicated fight against counterfeit imaging supplies – with a clear goal of protecting customers from the risks posed by counterfeit toner cartridges, ink cartridges, and printer ribbons.”
The Global Brand Protection Manager at Lexmark said: “Counterfeit imaging consumables are illegal – they ultimately cheat consumers out of the quality they have a right to expect from branded supplies. In fact, counterfeits can carry serious risks for users and dealers. At ICCE, we are committed to protecting unsuspecting consumers and honest businesses, as demonstrated by our bold actions and initiatives in 2022.”
Research suggests that the popular e-commerce trade is often used to sell counterfeit products. A recent report by OECD and EUIPO1 shows that 60% of global seizures of dangerous counterfeit items destined for the EU were ordered online. Accordingly, many ICCE members have taken bold steps to protect online shoppers.
This includes dedicated efforts by Brother – this brand alone has helped online marketplaces to remove over 40,000 infringing product listings in Europe. In parallel, ICCE member HP reports that it has triggered delistings of approx. 155,000 illicit offers of printing supplies products across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.2 HP’s actions covered several leading e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, or n11, as well as smaller or locally relevant platforms.
Epson reported about 70,000 offers for takedown in 2022 in Europe and in Turkey. Based on their online monitoring and good cooperation with other ICCE members, they also identified several major online traders of counterfeits in Turkey. As a result, officials carried out various raid actions and seized over 85,000 counterfeits and components.
A key factor in the fight against counterfeiting is to strengthen cooperation with law enforcement agencies and to inform local officials on how to spot suspicious products so they can take action. ICCE members provided tailored training for law enforcement officers in 2022 with numerous remarkable events and workshops. For example, Brother organised a workshop for German officials, while Epson conducted a series of fourteen training sessions for over 700 customs and law enforcement officials in Europe, ICCE reported.
ICCE and its members said they will continue to take a strong stance against counterfeit imaging consumables. Through educational articles and social media activities, ICCE is raising awareness of the risks posed by counterfeit imaging consumables.
In 2023, ICCE and its members will also drive new initiatives against counterfeiting – some of which are already visible, ICCE said.
ICCE concluded: “As we have done for the past 25 years, ICCE will continue to fight counterfeiting by working closely with law enforcement, businesses, channel partners, and consumers.”
To read more details about the ICCE efforts, click here.
