November 2024

ICCE Drives Fight Against Counterfeiting with Customs Training in Turkey

ICCE provided dedicated training for customs authorities in Turkey, collaborating with the officials in combating counterfeit imaging consumables (illustrative picture).

Recently, ICCE members have contributed to two comprehensive training events for customs officials in Türkiye. These sessions put a focus on educating law enforcement authorities about counterfeit imaging consumables, the risks they pose to users, and how to spot them. ICCE training sessions educate authorities so they are able to protect honest traders and unwitting customers from risky counterfeit printing supplies, such as toner cartridges, ink cartridges, and printer ribbons.

Training and Cooperation Help Enable Effective Enforcement Actions

In May and July, ICCE conducted new training sessions for more than one hundred members of the Turkish customs authorities, working together with the global anti‑counterfeiting network React. During the events, which were held in Istanbul and Ankara, representatives of all ICCE members informed the officers how to recognize signs of counterfeit imaging supplies. The participants had hands‑on practice with examples of genuine and counterfeit goods.

ICCE members showcase hands‑on samples during an in-person training event in Turkey in 2024

The close cooperation of the ICCE coalition is essential for organizing these training initiatives. By working together, it is possible to deliver highly effective, interactive training events. This collaboration ensures that the sessions are as relevant as possible to the law enforcement officers attending, who get both general anti‑counterfeiting insights and detailed guidance from brand‑holders. ICCE is proud to work with law enforcement agencies on a regular basis. This cooperation is at the core of our work which helps protect end users from the threat of counterfeit imaging supplies.

Cooperation with Law Enforcement Drives the Fight Against Counterfeiting

ICCE has been working together with customs officials and other law enforcement agencies since its inception more than 25 years ago. The industry association has supported numerous training sessions for authorities in countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“At ICCE, we take great pride in supporting customs, police, and other authorities wherever possible. This includes dedicated training initiatives. Regular training keeps officials abreast of the latest developments in counterfeiting trade – and it helps them to stay informed on how to spot potential counterfeit items, thereby identifying and disrupting illegal activities.”
DIRECTOR OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, CANON

ICCE Applauds Turkish Authorities for Their Efforts to Combat Counterfeiting

Identifying signs of counterfeiting and removing counterfeit products can have a major impact on keeping markets clean. A few months before the recent training session, Turkish officials had dismantled a massive counterfeiting workshop in the Tekirdağ Province. As a result of raids on two commercial premises, they seized illegal items worth approximately 70 million Turkish liras (~ 2.2 million euros).

ICCE strongly commends the Turkish officials for this efforts, demonstrating their commitment to protecting end users from risky counterfeit goods. We share this commitment and look forward to further cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to protect our members’ intellectual property and our valued customers from the threat of counterfeit toner cartridges, ink cartridges, and printer ribbons.

About ICCE

The Imaging Consumables Coalition of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (ICCE) was formed in 1997 as a direct response to the increase in counterfeit imaging consumables across the regions of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Imaging consumables include such products as toners, ink cartridges and ribbons. Initially created as an industry association with a focus on education, lobbying, information exchange, and awareness, it has since developed to include coordinating the role of receiving and processing intelligence information on counterfeiters, initiating joint industry raids and enforcement activities, and helping its members to target counterfeiters through the criminal and civil courts. Members of the organisation include some of the world’s leading imaging and printing companies: Brother, Canon, Epson, HP Inc, Kyocera, Lexmark, Ricoh, and Xerox.