Anti-Counterfeiting Training in Athens

Drakopoulos and React, the Dutch non-profit network committed to combating counterfeiting worldwide, hosted on 16 June, in Athens, a Product Identification Training seminar for over 100 Customs, Police, Financial Crime Unit, Coast Guard and Ministry of Economy officers, under the auspices of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The seminar aimed at raising awareness on goods infringing intellectual property rights and, to this effect, twenty-two international well-known companies provided training with respect to their brands, demonstrating ways to identify counterfeit products in a swift and effective manner. The seminar was labeled a success by the attendees, with important takeaways.

Sophia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mentioned that illegal trade activity, including the sale of counterfeit products, is a severe problem affecting the economy, businesses, employment and even consumer safety and stressed the key measures being implemented by the Chamber over several years in the fight of illegal trade and counterfeits,.

Michalis Kosmopoulos, partner at Drakopoulos, stated: “The training is another milestone in the successful cooperation between the brand owners, the enforcement authorities and businesses, and confirms the will of all stakeholders to further coordinate their efforts to combat counterfeiting and protect intellectual property rights.”

Katerina Hadjistojanova, Regional Office Manager at React, thanked the Chamber for its support and the Greek enforcement authorities for their active participation.

Drakopoulos, partner of React in Greece, Cyprus and Albania, regularly assists Greek authorities and private stakeholders in safeguarding supply chains and stemming the tide of counterfeit goods.