More than $270 million of counterfeit products seized in 2013

According to a report, more than $270 million of counterfeit consumer safety and critical technology products were seized in 2013.

By Tom Grace, Eaton April 21, 2014

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently released its annual “Intellectual Property Rights Seizures Statistics” for fiscal year 2013, which calls out updated statistics for counterfeiting worldwide.

In the yearly round-up, statistics pertinent to counterfeit electrical and other consumer safety products are included, highlighting the increase in seizures of such products.

In 2013, more than $270 million worth of consumer safety and critical technology was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Control, an 85% increase from 2012. This is the third year in a row this percentage has increased by more than half.

In addition, the 2013 report focuses heavily on metrics surrounding the large amount of counterfeiting in China and Hong Kong.

The U.S. Customs and Border Control reports that 68% of global counterfeiting comes from China. From this, the report also states that Hong Kong produces 93% of China’s manufactured counterfeit products, showing a 38% increase from 2012.

Click here to view the full 2013 “Intellectual Property Rights Seizures Statistics” report.

For more information about counterfeiting, visit www.eaton.com/counterfeit.


As brand protection manager for Eaton’s Electrical Sector, Tom Grace oversees counterfeit awareness, training, and prevention. This involves building awareness of the risks that counterfeit electrical products present to personal safety and the economy with end customers, contractors, inspectors, and electrical resellers.