Counterfeit trade Talks focused on potential update of IPR law

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SENIOR Customs and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) officers in the region are tasked with countering the rise of trade in counterfeits, which, according to the Oceania Customs Organisation, are increasingly flooding the Pacific and posing a real and grave threat to the health and safety of the people.

At a workshop held in Lautoka last week, the officers met to discuss ways to stop the trade of counterfeits which range from clothes, food, medicines to machinery, pesticides and electronic gadgets. A major possibility discussed was the updating of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) laws in the region.

According to the organisation

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financial proceeds generated from counterfeiting and piracy operations often also fund other criminal activities including the illicit drug trade. The challenges for Customs and IPR officers in the region include policing IPR infringements in the absence of appropriate laws and having the appropriate expertise to recognise counterfeits at the borders.

“In terms of food security, fake agriculture products that are harmful to the environment can easily wipe out a country’s production yield.

“We must be very alert at the borders to stop these counterfeits from entering our countries,” said acting head of the Oceania Customs Organisation Irma Daphney Stone, as she highlighted dangerous possibilities.

“We also acknowledge the importance of not only having our Customs officers in the workshop, but having our legal officers and national IPR offices included.

“This has strengthened the network as collaboration with national agencies is needed to embed the framework in place,” she added.

The workshop was supported by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Australian Border Force, who shared experiences and international best practices.

The workshop had participants from Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu, and resource experts from the Australian Border Force and the USPTO.

In terms of food

security, fake agriculture products that are harmful to

the environment can easily wipe out a country’s production yield. We must be very alert at the borders to stop these counterfeits from entering our countries

Irma Daphney Stone

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