EC's website to facilitate the sending of real-time intelligence about counterfeit shipments

COTANCE is pleased to announce the launch on the European Commission's website to facilitate the sending of real-time intelligence about counterfeit shipments to Customs in the Member States.

The application form procedure (Regulations 1383/2003 and 1891/2004), whereby rightholders ask Customs to look out for and detain products which infringe our intellectual property, is an essential element of any anti-counterfeiting strategy. Part of the form is dedicated to rightholders providing information to Customs about our products so as to help them to target fake consignments. However, as it is an annual procedure, many companies do not know how to inform Customs when any new or supplementary intelligence comes to light.

Further to industry pressure on authorities, the Commission's Customs department, DG TAXUD, together with other stakeholders worked closely with operational Customs officers to devise two intelligence forms.

The first is a "red alert", to be used for passing urgent intelligence: e.g. the rightholder knows that a particular consignment is en route.

The second, the "new trends" form, is to alert Customs to new routes of fraud, concealment methods or other new and important developments.

The forms are now on DG TAXUD's site, together with a list of national contact points in the Customs Administrations to whom they should be sent and who will ensure the rapid onward transmission of the intelligence to the ports and airports. Both forms can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_controls/counterfeit_piracy/right_holders/index_en.htm

This is of great practical value to rightholders and members are requested to disseminate this information as widely as possible, inside and outside their organisations.

Note that there is no legal requirement to complete them; this is a practical tool aimed at improving the real-time flow of intelligence and to help Customs to help us in fighting the counterfeit menace!

European Portal for SMEs (DG Enterprise)

DG Enterprise has opened a portal providing access to information on the whole spectrum of EU policies, legislation, programmes and initiatives relevant to Europe's small and medium-sized enterprises. It is structured in a way to orient the visitor on horizontal policies and programmes, but it also contains a specific sectoral section where you can find interesting information, documents, legislation and statistics and contacts for a large spectrum of industrial sectors. The Leather and Tanning sector has its own section. For the moment the portal exists in English but more language versions are coming soon. Futhermore, many guides and services accessible via the portal are already available in several languages.

European Employment Services (EURES)

EURES is an employment network created in order to help employers and employees to develop their skills in other parts of Europe. This can be particularly important and interesting in this sector, since it can help you to find the workers and employees needed form an other part of Europe.

Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS)

TRIS is designed to monitor standardisation activities introduced by national standardisation bodies. It creates the necessary conditions for enterprises to develop their activities beyond their national border. It gives the leather manufactures information on draft technical regulations and special specifications introduced by an EU member state or any new health regulations being developped.

Ramon : European Statistics (Eurostat)

RAMON is the new statistical server of Eurostat. It now has extended functionalities which make it possible to disseminate various other metadata categories: concepts and definitions, legal acts, methodological manuals, national methodologies, theseaurii, etc.

Hearing Officer (DG Trade)

Internal "Ombudsman" for defending the rights of people to a fair handling of DG Trade proceedings.

OSHA

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work publishes a free Newsletter where they give support in announcing, promoting and making national events, conferences and important developments known to a large audience- as a text item or included in the list of news and latest events at the right side of the newsletter. Simply send them an email with the information and relevant links.

Other EU sites of interest:

• The Official Journal of the EU is available on-line during a period of 40 days. It is available in all EU languages.
• A Directory of Community Legislation, covering past years, can be accessed free of charge.
• The Commission has created a Textiles Information System which offers regular information on the textiles, clothing, footwear and leather sector. Your association can register at DGI's web site.
• SOLVIT help solve problems caused to citizens and businesses by the misapplication of Internal Market Rules by public administrations in another Member State.  
• A wide range of official documents from the EC can also be found at the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.  
• Welcome to Europa offers general information on the EU.
• The European Commission's One Stop Internet Shop for Business - an overview facility that allows businesses to find out about Community policies
• The Market Access Database - Useful information on tariffs, trade barriers and import formalities with third countries
• Trade implications of EU enlargement: Facts and Figures
• Glossary for acronyms and definitions of trde terms in English, French, Spanish and German
• Publication on the EU Generalised System of Preferences: available in English, French and Spanish
• "Transitional measures for the free circulation of workers in the enlarged EU"