Anfao continues to fight counterfiting

Hearing by Parliamentary Commission investigating commercial counterfeiting and piracy As part of the inquiry for determining the extent of counterfeiting and its implications, on February 22 the "Parliamentary Commission investigating commercial counterfeiting and piracy" called on Anfao to testify to the significance of the phenomenon for the eyewear sector. At the hearing, Anfao underscored yet again how important it is to continue to take action against a phenomenon that is frequently played down and rationalized, but which affects the entire economy and about which companies and consumers should be made more aware.   The following are the priorities that Anfao underscored for the Commission:   -Nothing can be done without political and institutional determination to fight counterfeiting; -Effective and efficient legal and judicial tools at European and international level; -Enforcement of existing laws and, primarily, penal laws to protect intellectual property; -Monitoring of the territory and the coordination of the relevant law enforcement agencies; -Communication and raising the awareness of consumers about the damage to the country's economy (and the increase in organized crime) and to health; -Raising company awareness about protecting intellectual property also through programs for facilitating the registration of brands, patents and models; -Implementation of an effective law against online counterfeiting; -Greater international cooperation in the fight against counterfeiting (it would be much more useful to stop goods where they originate, before they reach their destination, through bilateral agreements with manufacturing countries).   Lastly, Anfao emphasized the concept that a leading role should be played by Italy at European Union level and by the European Union at global level. Enforcement is necessary to curb counterfeiting and this cannot be done without the collaboration of all the States and all the institutions at international level.   Despite the formality of the hearing, which will in fact include the sector in its inquiries and refer to it in the final report to Parliament (which the Commission expects to approve before the end of spring), the foundations have been laid for real dialogue and proactive collaboration.   It is estimated that, every year, counterfeiting in Italy's eyewear sector absorbs 15% of the market, a loss of 75-100 million euros in billings for the Italian companies in the sector. And this is in addition to the loss of internal revenues from sales and other taxes.   Counterfeiting in the eyewear sector also has much more serious effects. Health is damaged because of the strict correlation between eyewear and its function of correcting and protecting eyesight.