(BRUSSELS) - Seizures of counterfeit goods, overwhelmingly of Chinese origin, soared at Europe's borders last year, the European Commission said Thursday.

Customs officials seized more than 250 million fake articles in 2006 compared to 75 million the previous year and 100 million in 2004, the EU's executive arm said.

More than 60 percent of the seized articles were cigarettes.

The fight against the fakes has been complicated for customs services by changes in routes used by criminals, the use of the Internet and the transport of small quantities by air or post.

"Counterfeiting continues to constitute a dangerous threat for our health, safety and the economy," warned EU Taxation and Customs Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs.

"I encourage all stakeholders to continue to cooperate and take actions at all appropriate levels: business, national customs administrations, police and other enforcement authorities," he added.

"The public also has a responsibility here by not being tempted by the cheap fake holiday bargains. International customs cooperation with our major trading partners, in particular China and India, needs to be further implemented."

China remains the main source for counterfeit goods, with over 80 percent of all articles seized coming from there.

While cigarettes were the main item seized in Europe, the amount of other goods more than doubled from 2005.

In particular medicines, widely on sale via the Internet, have shown a dramatic increase in seizures; 2.5 million items last year compared to 500,000 items in 2005.

India is the number one source, followed by the United Arab Emirates and China. Together these three sources are responsible for more than 80 percent of all counterfeit medicines.

In all, customs' departments made more than 36,000 seizures of various goods last year, 40 percent more than in 2005.

A major success was Operation DAN, carried out with the cooperation of 13 EU member states in September 2006, when 92 containers were seized carrying a wide range of products, largely from China, including cigarettes, medicine, fake toys, sunglasses, shoes and imitation car parts.

2006 customs seizures of counterfeit goods - Frequently Asked Questions

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