The report on the economic repercussions of counterfeiting within the clothing, cosmetics, and toy industries in the European Union was released in January 2024. This study examines the economic consequences of counterfeit products on sales and employment across three key sectors: clothing (including footwear), cosmetics, and toys. Utilizing various models, the study provides estimates that shed light on the impact of counterfeit goods on legitimate industries, revealing the extent to which they have experienced reduced sales in the EU market. Consequently, these diminished sales directly contribute to employment losses within the affected industries.

The EUIPO publishes on in website the main findings:

Main findings

  • The legitimate clothing industry lost almost EUR 12 billion of sales as an annual average in 2018-2021, representing 5.2 % of clothing sales in the EU.
  • As a consequence of sales lost due to counterfeiting, the clothing industry employed 160 000 fewer people each year in the same period.
  • The estimated lost cosmetics sales due to counterfeiting amount to EUR 3 billion, corresponding to 4.8 % of total sales.
  • The lost employment in the EU cosmetics industry is estimated at almost 32 000 people.
  • The toy sector suffers the highest ratio of sales lost due to counterfeiting: 8.7 %, corresponding to EUR 1 billion.
  • The toy sector employed 3 600 fewer people due to counterfeiting.

Full report is available in EUIPO website.

https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/publications/clothing-cosmetics-and-toy-sectors-in-the-eu-2024