26 January 2007
Pretoria: South Africa, through the South African Revenue Service (SARS),
today joins the 169 members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in
observing International Customs Day and reiterating this country's commitment
to join the global offensive against all forms of illegal trade.
Global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods is growing at an alarming rate
and internationally the value of counterfeit and pirated goods is estimated at
US$650 billion. The WCO estimates that trade in counterfeits accounts for 7% of
global merchandise trade and that these products are now produced on an
industrial scale.
Similarly the WCO reported 4 000 seizures in 2004 involving some 166 million
goods. The 170 members of the WCO collectively administer 98% of world trade.
The WCO provides customs administrations with a Global Customs Co-operation
Network to identify the cross-border movement of high-risk goods and to
prioritise joint action on the illegal trade in fake goods. Tools have been
developed to advance international co-operation such as the electronic Customs
Enforcement Network, Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices and sophisticated
risk management and targeting instruments.
Being part of an increasingly globalised economy, South Africa is not immune
to the trade in illicit products.
During the past two years SARS, through its Customs operations, has seen a
steady increase in the number and value of detentions of counterfeit and
pirated goods: from 335 in 2004/05 (value � R235 million) to 725 (value � R540
million). These detentions included DVDs, CDs, clothing, footwear, cellular
telephone accessories, vehicle parts and cosmetics.
During 2006, Customs already detained counterfeit goods illegally bearing
the 2010 Fifa World Cup logo � 4 years before the actual event. The trend
follows the German experience where 2 500 seizures were made ahead of and
during the 2006 Fifa World Cup.
This morning the Commissioner of SARS and SARS officials were joined by
representatives from the Southern African Federation Against Copyright Theft
(SAFACT) in issuing some 15 000 pamphlets at designated street intersections in
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Port Elizabeth to raise public awareness
about the dangers of counterfeit goods.
SARS appeals to South African consumers not to support the trade in
counterfeit goods. There is strong supportive evidence indicating indelible
links between counterfeit trade and organised crime. The same smuggling and
concealment techniques for drug trafficking are used by counterfeit traders as
well as methods to obscure the origin and destination of counterfeit and
pirated merchandise.
The money individuals spend on that "inexpensive" blockbuster movie will
eventually flow into such activities as money-laundering, the financing of
human trafficking, narcotics and illegal weapons and international
terrorism.
There is international consensus that the trade in counterfeit goods can
exist and flourish because of consumer demand. Without the consumer, the market
would not survive.
SARS will continue to work within the WCO context to fight counterfeit trade
and will continue to improve the resource capability of Customs.
South African consumers can report suspicious trading activity, piracy or
copyright infringements to one of the following numbers:
SARS fraud hotline: 0800 00 28 70
SAFACT hotline: 0860 22 55 050
RISA hotline: 0860 PIRATE/0860 747 283
For further media enquiries, please call:
Adrian Lackay
SARS Communications
TEL: (012) 422 4206
Cell: 083 388 2580
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
26 January 2007
