Dubai Customs recycles 1,906 fake items
DUBAI: The IPR Department at Dubai Customs recycled 1,906 counterfeit items, with a market value of Dhs188,000, as part of their efforts in combating piracy and supporting sustainable development. Recycling helps brand owners get rid of copied products without impacting the environment.
The items included sports shoes, mobile headphones and computers. They were seized in cooperation with the Intelligence Department ater receiving information on suspicious shipments arriving from an Asian country. The shipments were intercepted, seized and confiscated. Recycling was carried out by Color Code recycling company in the presence of American Consulate representatives, Malik Hanouf, CEO of Brand Owners’ Protection Group, representatives from Air Cargo Centres Management, IPR Dispute Section, and External Relations Section.
“The IPR Department works closely with different partners to curb counterfeiting in line with TRIPS agreement,” said Yousef Ozair Mubarak, Director of IPR Department. The damage caused by counterfeit goods to the economy, environment and even perhaps our overall quality of life should be something of a given for most people. Perhaps Intellectual Property rights-holders are those most likely to feel the true pinch of this rogue industry, but when one considers the big picture it becomes clear that everyone is liable to be affected by counterfeiting and piracy.”
Shuaib Al Suwaidi, Director of Customs Intelligence Department said: “We take care of all information that help us thwart all types of smuggling to protect our society from the hazards of illegitimate goods. Counterfeit goods are not welcome in Dubai and we work together with different partners to ensure they don’t enter the emirate.”
Recently, Dubai saw exceptional growth in business registration applications. Against all odds, Dubai Customs completed 107,000 business registration requests from January to May, growing 95 per cent from 55,000 in the first five months in 2019.