Dubai Customs has recycled around 148,700 counterfeit pieces with a market value of AED 3.2 million this year, according to a top official.
Yousef Ozair Mubarak, Director of IPR Department at Dubai Customs, said that over 148,700 fakes from 46 international brands were recycled instead of being destroyed.
The counterfeit items consisted mostly of luxury handbags, garments and electronics. While the fakes were destroyed, the reusable items were salvaged and recycled for better use.
"The IPR department is very serious about the rights of international brands and how to protect them from counterfeiting," Mubarak said. "Instead of destroying counterfeit goods, we offer them the option of recycling them as this is more environmentally friendly.”
Dubai Customs had recently held an online video meeting with French and US diplomatic missions in Dubai in order to develop “the best protection” of the rights of French and US brands.
The meeting also discussed international cooperation for protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) and preventing counterfeit products.
“We have agreed with the commercial representatives of the French and American diplomatic missions in the emirate on certain ways to achieve the best results in IPR field following the best international practices,” Mubarak noted.