In spite of the large number of customs watch applications, the first destruction of counterfeit goods in Albania took place only recently, on August 9-10, 2012, when 1,005 items bearing the mark of the world's leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment were destroyed in the presence of trademark representatives and Albanian customs officials.
The fake goods, including sneakers, flip-flops, bags and socks, originated in China and were recently seized in the capital of Tirana and at the Port of Durres, the largest port in Albania, located on the central Albanian coast.
The destruction process took place at private business premises in Tirana. The sneakers and flip-flops were cut in half and taken to the Tirana landfill for final disposal, while the socks and bags were burned.
This is an important step forward in the fight against counterfeiting and it shows that the Albanian customs authorities have prioritized the IPR protection.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.