Kitt Welcomes Counterfeit Goods Seizures

Mr. Tom Kitt T.D., Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, today (Monday, 14th September 1998) welcomed the latest seizures of counterfeit designer goods by officers of the Customs and Excise service and Gardaí.

Minister Kitt, who was speaking from the People's Republic of China where he is accompanying the Taoiseach on a Government delegation, was reacting to the announcement that counterfeit designer clothing valued at over £1 million had been seized by Customs officers and Gardaí on their attempted importation into Ireland. It is understood that many of the goods concerned were of high quality, and were intended for the Irish and general European markets.

"Brand piracy is often thought of as a harmless, victimless crime, but nothing could be further from the truth," Minister Kitt said. "People who steal the mark and get-up of another's goods so as to enrich themselves, not only mislead the consumer into buying often inferior goods, but also unjustly deprives brand owners of the returns to which their investment rightly entitles them and thus undermines markets and jobs."

The Minister called on consumers to reject counterfeit merchandise, the sale of which is contrary to the long-term interests of both consumers and of legitimate manufacturers.

Minister Kitt congratulated the Customs authorities and the Gardaí in particular on the dedication shown by them and on the high level of co-operation with international anti-counterfeiting agencies, without which this very serious instance of brand theft could not have been uncovered.

"This case shows that in the face of increasing sophistication on the part of criminals intent on brand piracy, Ireland is playing its full part in the world-wide effort to support the rights of legitimate manufacturers and traders, and of consumers, in combating this particularly damaging form of commercial crime," Minister Kitt said.