Labels and Tags Rank Ninth on List of Counterfeit Seizures for Second Consecutive Year

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently released their Intellectual Property Rights Seizure Statistics report for fiscal year 2015, which revealed more than 28,000 seizures worth approximately $1.4 billion, up from 2014 reports of 23,000 seizures valued at approximately $1.2 billion.

Labels/tags finished ninth on the list—just below computers/accessories. According to the report, the agencies seized 550 shipments of labels/tags (2 percent of all seizures). Label/tags also accounted for 2 percent of all seizures in 2015; however, the specific number of seizures landed at 451.

The jump in seizures may not be drastic, but things don’t appear to be headed in the right direction. Of the other counterfeit commodities that were seized, only one category (consumer electronics) saw a decline in seizures with 5,326 compared to last year’s 5,432. Wearing apparel/accessories once again topped the list with 6,232 seizures, which was 22 percent of all seizures.

Image via U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“Counterfeit goods present health and safety hazards, threaten the U.S. economy and fund organizations involved in violent crime,” Sarah R. Saldaña, director of ICE, said in a release. “ICE is committed to working with CBP and our law enforcement partners to protect American jobs and people by stemming the illicit flow of these products into our country and our communities.”

Other counterfeit commodities that were seized included: footwear; watches/jewelry; pharmaceuticals/personal care; handbags/wallets; optical media; and toys.

View the full report here.