From 25 – 27 July, POF rolled out a series of anti-counterfeiting seminars and workshops across Australasia in conjunction with leading European anti-counterfeiting organisation, React. As React’s exclusive partner in Australia since 2010 and in New Zealand since last year, POF delivered events in Auckland and Sydney for brand owners and authorities in the anti-counterfeiting field. The seminar in Auckland was opened by Bill Perry, Deputy Comptroller, Operations from New Zealand Customs, and included speakers from Hong Kong Customs, Australian Border Force as well as Pfizer and TradeMe.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event in Melbourne, the workshops provided an opportunity for brand owners to engage with Customs officers and facilitate the exchange of best practices against counterfeiting. Attendees shared insights on counterfeiting trends and critical risk indicators to assist Custom’s officers in identifying counterfeit goods. New Zealand Customs arranged a guided tour of their air cargo facilities and the International Mail centre, offering valuable information about cargo inspection, investigation, risk analysis and consumer protection. Officers led enlightening demonstrations and emphasised the important use of X-Rays and detection dogs to identify unauthorised goods. Attendees even received the rare opportunity to witness an intercept of a shipment of methamphetamines!
The workshops and seminar were well-received, with in-house lawyers and brand protection managers attending from Louis Vuitton, Pfizer, Apple, Tiffany & Co, Procter & Gamble, New Era Cap, Nike, ghd, Dolby, Stihl and Schaeffler. We would like to thank everyone who attended this event and we look forward to continuing to work with React in the fight against counterfeiting!
If you would like to find out more about the event, or if you have any issues in relation to anti-counterfeiting, please contact Marine Guillou – marine.guillou@pof.com.au
