ICCE seize counterfeit consumables products in Turkey
Imaging Consumables Coalition of Europe (ICCE) seize counterfeit consumables products in Turkey
As a result of Sustained intelligence activities in Europe, the Imaging Consumables Co-alition of Europe (ICCE) have been successful in raiding two key counterfeit operations in Turkey.
Seizure Details
Two locations were established as being involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit products. Large quantities of packaging, holograms and ribbon cassettes were seized and identified as being counterfeit. Four key brands were identified in these activities, these being Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard and Oki. From the findings in these raids, it is estimated that product volumes involved are in excess of 100,000 pieces. It is also evident that these counterfeit sources have been active for some time now so there will be product in the distribution channel. ‘It is imperative that the distribution channel is alerted to the possibility of counterfeit product within the distribution channel. Price is always a clear indication of a potential counterfeit source. The message is clear – purchase from the authorised distribution channel to avoid risk of dealing in counterfeit products’, commented an ICCE spokesperson.
ICCE
ICCE are continuously involved in anti-counterfeit operations and in the last few months, the industry has seen similar raids against counterfeit dealers increase, in particular within Germany, UK, Spain, Israel and Poland. This will continue in the future as the industry begins to further develop enforcement strategies.
ICCE was originally formed in September 1997 by Epson, Oki, Hewlett Packard and Lexmark, and is a non-profit making Coalition dedicated to combating the issue of counterfeit consumables in Europe, Middle East and Africa. In the late 1990s it was estimated that counterfeit consumables accounted for 5% of the total European supplies market, estimated to be worth upwards of US $500 million. The current ICCE members include Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, Oki, Ricoh, Sharp and Xerox.