Dubai Customs recycles 22,436 counterfeit items for 24 brands

DUBAI, 13th November, 2022 (WAM) — Within its efforts to combat counterfeiting and protect the environment and society from the hazards of counterfeit goods, Dubai Customs, represented by the Intellectual Property (IPR) Department, recycled 22,436 counterfeit items for 24 brands.

The brands were from Germany, the United States (US), Italy, the United Kingdom (UK), Switzerland, France, South Korea and Japan and included a variety of phones, watches, batteries, shoes, bags, accessories and cosmetics.

The recycling took place in the virtual presence of the US, UK, Italian, Japanese, and German diplomatic missions’ representatives and representatives of the Dubai Municipality and Dubai Customs.

“We recycle these counterfeit goods to ensure that they are disposed of without harming the environment and to convert them into usable materials,” said Mohammed bin Nasir, Manager of the IP Dispute Section.

“This is part of our mission to protect society from the hazards of these counterfeit goods in cooperation with the brand owners. Diplomatic missions of countries that these brands belong to are briefed about the procedures and details of these recycling operations, and they are always welcome to attend them. We always open different communication channels with brand owners and coordinate workshops for customs inspectors and employees to learn how to distinguish counterfeit goods from the original.”