Counterfeiting: record seizures in the EU in 2025

Brussels – In 2025, European Union authorities seized over 175 million counterfeit products, with a total value of 4.6 billion euros, according to the findings of the joint report on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, published by EUIPO, the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The figures mark a reversal of the downward trend recorded in 2024 and represent an all-time high, surpassing the previous records set in 2023.

In the EU’s internal market, recorded CDs and DVDs still top the list of goods most frequently seized for the second year running. Despite the rise of streaming, demand for new music releases, special high-definition editions, TV box sets, retro video games, and application software continues to drive the figures for counterfeit products that infringe copyright. The category of labels, tags, and stickers – i.e. the materials used to assemble counterfeits – has risen to third place, confirming the potential multiplier effect within the EU.

The results for 2025 confirm the difficulties that had already emerged in recent years. Factors contributing to this include the wide variety of transport routes, increasingly fragmented supply chains, resource-intensive inspection procedures, and the rapid and constant growth of e-commerce, which is putting pressure on the ability to detect illicit goods.

Joint operations carried out by police forces and market surveillance authorities in EU countries demonstrate the value of coordinated action. At the same time, they highlight the need for “new proactive approaches” and closer involvement of other stakeholders, such as major transport operators and online platforms, to better protect intellectual property rights and safeguard the European economy, according to EUIPO.