Counterfeit and pirated goods - Customs' role
New Zealand Customs Service regularly intercepts counterfeit (imitation) and pirated goods at the border.
Between 1997 and 2007, Customs removed about 1.1 million counterfeit goods from the market. Customs officers intercept these items at airports, ports and the International Mail Centre in Auckland.
Counterfeiting and piracy affects everything that is manufactured and has a commercial value. Such offending continues to grow locally and internationally, and all New Zealanders should be concerned about it as it impacts on legitimate economic activity.
Protecting copyright and trademarks
Customs operates a Border Protection Notice System to protect brands at the border. For more information on the System, click here.
This system provides a measure of security for local and international trademark and copyright holders.
Goods are detained according to the Trade Marks Act 2002 and the Copyright Act 1994, if the company in question has lodged a notice with Customs.
What happens if Customs detains my goods?
Click here for information on what happens with your goods if they are detained by Customs.
Penalties for importing imitation goods
There are penalties under the Trade Marks Act 2002 and Copyright Act 1994 in relation to counterfeit or pirated goods.
For more information on these, click here.
Common imitations
Customs detains a wide range of imitation goods at the border. The most common counterfeit and pirated goods we detain, are:
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Toys
- Bags
- Wallets/purses
- Caps
- Sunglasses
- Optical discs (CDs/DVDs)
- Watches
- Cell phone accessories
Some other counterfeit goods intercepted at the border pose a risk to consumers, such as imitation foodstuffs, medicines, toys, car oil filters and cell phone charging units.
Importers and consumers should consider the following if they suspect goods are counterfeit:
- Counterfeit goods are often sold very cheaply at markets or on the Internet.
- Counterfeit goods often have cheap packaging, badly printed labels, or are too cheaply priced.
- If it's too good to be true then it probably is.
Further information
For any queries on Customs' role in counterfeit or pirated goods, of if you would like to speak with someone in our Fraud and Prohibitions team about such goods, contact our National Call Centre at 0800 4 CUSTOMS or email feedback@customs.govt.nz
For other information relating to counterfeit and pirated goods:
World Customs Organisation
Ministry of Economic Development
Ministry of Consumer Affairs
Medsafe
New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft
Recording Industry Association of NZ