A new programme to help Federal Customs Authority (FCA) inspectors identify and seize counterfeit goods will benefit the automotive sector, says Ford Motor Company’s Alexander Liske.
Liske was speaking on behalf of the Automotive Industry Working Group in the Brand Owners’ Protection Group (BPG), a non-profit organisation in the Gulf area committed to combating counterfeit trade.
The group took part in FCA’s recent initiative, ‘A Forum on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights’, held in Dubai earlier this month, organised in coordination with the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
BPG members include vehicle manufacturers, producers of luxury goods such as Louis Vuitton, and a wide array of companies including Nestlé Middle East FZE, Nokia, and Al Tamimi & Company.
The Forum saw the UAE launch of a World Customs Organisation programme to provide customs inspectors with different information about goods and commodities which help them discover fake goods.
While many sectors will benefit from enhanced protections, the automotive sector is particularly vulnerable to the effects of counterfeit parts due to the safety implications of substandard parts.
Liske says that use of counterfeit automotive spare parts has a negative impact on health and possibly life of customers.
“Shipping routes of counterfeit, substandard parts in and through Middle East are subject to constant modifications by the infringers, which challenge the control of the goods flow,” said Liske.
“Transparent and responsive border control measures are one of the essential key factors to infiltrate illicit trade with counterfeit goods. Close collaboration between the private and public sector are paving the way to the perfection of border monitoring and control.”
The conference was a chance for BPG members to show their support for the FCA initiative, with member brands, including board members Ford Motor Company, Beiersdorf Middle East and Nestlé Middle East and members Louis Vuitton and Sanofi-Aventis providing insight into intellectual property protection from the brand owners’ point of view.
The brands conducted workshops during the event to educate customs inspectors on properly identifying authentic and counterfeit products.
