Cyprus incurs annual losses exceeding €8 million and faces the destruction of more than 16 jobs due to illicit trade in counterfeit food and beverages, highlighting a broader challenge affecting the entire European Union.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) reported on Wednesday that fake wines and spirits alone account for €2.29 billion in lost sales and nearly 5,700 jobs eliminated across the EU each year.
Released as part of EUIPO’s World Anti-Counterfeiting Day campaign titled “What’s on your table?”, the data underscores the escalating threat posed by counterfeit food and drink products—not only to the economy but also to consumer safety.
EUIPO cautioned that many counterfeit alcoholic beverages contain hazardous substances such as methanol, mercury, and banned pesticides, posing significant health risks. Joao Negrao, EUIPO’s executive director, stressed the campaign’s goal of empowering consumers with knowledge to protect themselves while supporting legitimate businesses adhering to EU quality standards. He emphasized that tackling counterfeit goods requires joint efforts from authorities, producers, and consumers.
Traditionally linked to luxury goods and fashion, counterfeiters have increasingly targeted food products. The 2022 Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment by EUIPO and Europol revealed that food ranked as the second most seized category at EU external borders in 2020, encompassing items like biscuits, crisps, pasta, and sweets.
Furthermore, the 2025 Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) by Europol highlights the pivotal role of e-commerce in amplifying the spread of counterfeit products. Criminal groups exploit digital platforms to distribute fake goods, often replicating premium brands through counterfeit labels, packaging, and production techniques.
Alcoholic beverages are particularly susceptible to counterfeiting. Organised crime networks frequently refill genuine bottles with inferior or dangerous substances or apply fraudulent labels to deceive consumers and retailers alike.
These developments intensify the regulatory and enforcement challenges faced by customs and authorities across the EU. Between 2013 and 2017, the wine and spirits sector suffered an estimated €2.2 billion in annual lost sales and a further €2.06 billion in lost tax revenue. Cyprus, despite its smaller market size, remains vulnerable to these impacts.
Notably, China and Turkey were identified among the primary countries of origin for counterfeit food and drink products intercepted at EU borders in 2019 and 2020.
In response, EUIPO urges consumers to exercise caution by purchasing food and beverages exclusively from authorised retailers or official company websites. Consumers should scrutinize packaging for quality issues, spelling mistakes, or missing certification marks, and verify EU geographical indication labels such as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), and SPC (Supplemental Protection Certificate).
The report also highlights modern verification technologies—such as QR codes and holograms—as effective tools for consumers to authenticate products and safeguard their health and investment.
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