Germany Faces Severe Economic Impact from Rising Counterfeit Goods
Germany faces significant economic and job risks from counterfeit goods entering the country, with record seizures and calls for stronger regulatory actions.
- • Germany suffers an estimated 8 billion euros annual loss to counterfeit goods.
- • 144,000 counterfeit packages enter Germany weekly, mainly from China and Turkey.
- • Record 112 million counterfeit items seized, valued at 3.8 billion euros last year.
- • 64,000 German jobs threatened due to counterfeit competition.
Key details
Germany has emerged as the leading target for counterfeit goods within the European Union, with manufacturers suffering estimated annual losses of around 8 billion euros, according to the German Brand Association. Weekly, about 144,000 parcels of counterfeit products enter the country, highlighting the scale of the issue. Last year, authorities seized a record 112 million counterfeit items valued at 3.8 billion euros, with Germany accounting for roughly 25% of the EU's total seized goods value.
Most counterfeit items originate from China and Turkey, predominantly comprising CDs, DVDs, and toys. The influx of these fake goods not only threatens the nation's strong economy and reputable brands but also endangers approximately 64,000 jobs. The German Retail Federation (HDE) has raised alarms over the unfair competition counterfeit products impose and advocates for stricter regulatory measures, particularly enhanced controls on online platforms.
Consumer safety is also at risk, as counterfeit products may contain harmful substances and fail to meet safety standards. Franz-Olaf Kallerhoff, president of the German Brand Association, emphasized the urgency for stronger market safeguards against unsafe and unlawfully produced counterfeit items that can violate environmental and labor protections. Moreover, only a small fraction—0.7%—of counterfeit cases proceed to legal action, indicating challenges in enforcement.
Authorities urge consumers to report counterfeit goods and notify online platform operators to combat this pervasive problem effectively.