Storage and destruction of seized counterfeit goods in the EU

This report aims to provide information and describe challenges linked with two important phases of the legal proceedings related to the detention and seizure of counterfeit goods: their storage and their destruction. In particular, the report focuses on the costs of these processes borne by competent authorities and by right holders. A particular emphasis is given to the latter category. The report gathers information provided by competent authorities in EU Member States and right holders, combined with data on detentions provided by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD). Customs from 15 EU Member States communicated figures related to costs for storage and destruction. Police authorities shared information related to their procedures. Data was collected via a questionnaire sent to customs administrations (Annex III), interviews and bilateral discussions with other competent authorities and with selected right holders, in particular with two of them in 2023. Prices and costs were transmitted by EU Member States interviewed in 2022. The report analyses costs for storage and destruction of seized goods carried out in the frame of two procedures: the customs procedure based on Regulation 608/2013 of the European Union and procedures carried out by police, according to their national legislations.