Newark, N.J. — Since October 2008, Customs and Border Protection officers at Newark Seaport have made approximately 200 seizures of counterfeit goods with a domestic value of more than $33 million, and a Manufacturer’s Retail Suggested price of an excess of hundreds of millions.
The products vary from children’s products to drug paraphernalia. CBP is a key player in the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. With the continued growth of foreign trade, the risk to consumers in growing, unscrupulous companies have profited billions of dollars from the sale of pirated goods that may pose a health and safety risk.
Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to Newark Seaport have seized many consumer products including but not limited too: footwear, health and safety products, apparel, handbags, and children’s products. Some of the items seized within the second fiscal quarter; include health and safety items such as soaps, detergents, and foodstuffs which undergo rigorous inspections by the Food & Drug Administration.
Other products included toys, pillows, blankets and electric goods which are monitored and inspected by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a U.S. government agency responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks to health and safety. Newark Seaport is one of the largest global trade hubs on the east coast, receiving about one million containers a year. CBP officers posted at seaports throughout the nation enforce not only Intellectual Property Rights, but are a leading force in the war against terrorism and drug interdiction.
Counterfeit or pirated goods also have a significant effect on already burdened companies in these economic times. Manufacturers lose billions of dollars in revenue annually due to copyright and trademark violations, leading to higher prices to consumers and possible job losses.
CBP has developed a multi tiered response to combating violations of Intellectual Property Rights. CBP’s strategy includes; seizing fake goods at our borders, pushing the border outward through audits of infringing importers, and partnering with industry and other government agencies to enhance these efforts. CBP officers and import specialist are armed with an online system, through the collaboration of manufactures that register with the CBP system, which assists them to easily identify fake merchandise.
“CBP is committed to ensuring the safety of the community through its continued efforts to intercept dangerous goods, while facilitating legitimate trade and protecting the interests of Intellectual Property Rights holders,” said Robert E. Perez, director of field operations in New York.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
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