1 TAIEX workshop for Southern Mediterranean countries on fighting against piracy and counterfeiting Consumer protection and awareness The Italian Policy for Consumer protection and awareness Tunis, October 06-07, 2010 Gianluca Scarponi – Head of Anti-Counterfeiting Policy Division Ministry of Economic Development Department for Enterprise and Internationalization Directorate General for the Fight against Counterfeiting – I.P.T.O.

2 Introducing myself…  The DG for Combating Counterfeiting – Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM) of the Ministry of Economic Development, has been established by Presidential Decree n. 197 of 28th November  The DG is formed by 12 Divisions, 2 of them are dedicated to the fight against counterfeiting: Anti-counterfeiting Policy Assistance and support to the enterprises against counterfeiting

3 About Counterfeiting… An American motto “If it’s being made, it’s being faked” A fake is a theft “To steal: to take a person’s property secretly and without right” (Oxford Dictionary).

4 Complexity of Counterfeiting An illicit trade A big business for organized crime A risk for consumers’ health and safety

Medicines Toys Spare parts Food & beverages A risk for consumers’ health

Some lethal examples 2006 – More than 100 people dead in Panama because of a counterfeit cough syrup A Canadian woman died from metal poisoning after the ingestion of a counterfeit pill bought on the internet 2005 – Counterfeit Raki killed more than 20 people in Turkey 2001 – Counterfeit Vodka killed at least 60 people in Estonia SOURCE: Counterfeiting. A Global Spread A Global Threat, UNICRI, Available at:

A complex response Law enforcement agencies The customs Producers Consumers A complex response

8 The Italian Strategy Stimulate Protect Aid

9 Awareness Activities Since July, 2009, several information campaigns directed at consumers, at shopkeepers and even at tourists, at a national and local level.

10 No to Fake (2009) The campaign launched a logo and several slogans, still used in our communication activities. Be recognizable!

11 Awareness Activities Some awareness campaigns have been executed in cooperation with the main Municipalities (for example, Rome, Bari, Brindisi, Catania and so on…), in 2009 and In these campaigns the main player is the consumer, affirming: I say no to Fake “I say no to Fake” I’m an original guy “I’m an original guy” I don’t want to deal “I don’t want to deal in Quality in Quality”

12 Falsified medicines Information initiatives with AIFA, Italian Medicines Agency, and in collaboration with IMPACT, the task force against counterfeit drugs Counterfeit medicines – Facts and case studies. D. Di Giorgio, EDQM, 2009

13 Support Activities Promoting traceability of products and goods a portfolio of different technologies available for enterprises a warranty for consumer’s health and safety

14 Protection Activities A Pilot Program to exchange information about fake products, involving directly the consumers in warning, testing and monitoring process Start: a consumer claim

15 Protection Activities National Contact Centre The “hotline” for businesses and citizens to report cases of counterfeiting

16 Others Tools…  Partnerships with Consumers’ Associations, at a National and Local Level  Dissemination of a proper IPRs Culture  Legislative Reforms …to fight against the so called Robin Hood Syndrome!

17 Thank you for you attention and consideration! … we believe our strategies can assist other countries in their own anti-counterfeiting efforts …