China Customs Intensifies Efforts to Fight against Infringement Activities through Express Mail Service

China Customs said on August 19 that the infringement activities carried out through using the express mail service would be the main target of Customs Intellectual Property Rights enforcement for the latter half of the year 2014.

The General Administration of Customs issued a notice a few days ago, asking Customs administrations throughout the country to intensify efforts to fight against the infringement activities done piecemeal, with the infringement upon such items as garments, bags, watches, cosmetics, medicines, foods, digital products and home appliances as the main targets.

According to Mr.Zhang Guangzhi, the spokesman of the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Customs was considering signing a memorandum with the postal service administration authorities to fight together the infringement activities carried out through using the postal or express mail service. He said the Customs administrations in different provinces and regions would take the initiative to enhance communication with local postal services, especially on information exchange and enforcement coalition; meanwhile, local Customs would strengthen the cooperation with such relevant departments as pubic security and administration for industry and commerce to close the spring of the infringement poison.

Zhang said Customs would try to fight against the infringement through more accurate measures developed on the commodity and transaction information obtained through a much enhanced cooperation with the large-sized enterprises involving in E-commerce. Also, Customs would make a special effort to spread the idea of Customs IPR enforcement through working closely with the enterprises that had established their own E-commerce platform.

It is said that 16,600 consignments of (1.21 millions of) infringing products were seized in 2013, a year-on-year increase of 124%.