Italy loses 20,000 jobs a year to counterfeiting, says Assocalzaturifici
02/10/2013
Arturo Venanzi said: “Ours is a dynamic industry that operates in all markets and exports 84% of its production value. All Italian footwear brands are fighting an unequal battle against forgery, both in the domestic market and in emerging countries. Counterfeiting results in a loss of 20,000 jobs a year in Italy, and when we consider the global market and the internet, the situation gets even more complicated.
"Forgers seek to induce consumers into believing that the product of a brand is authentic by using the term 'Made in Italy' and other Italian-sounding expressions. For this reason, it is extremely important for the European authorities to adopt effective market surveillance tools, and have a profound influence on bilateral negotiations.”
Italy’s fashion footwear industry generated a turnover of over €7bn in 2012, employs 78,000 and contributes more than €3.8 billion to Italy's trade figures.
“It is essential to introduce valid tracking tools for the European internal market,” added Mr Venanzi. “The EC’s legislative package on product safety and market surveillance is an important step to standardise rules across Europe. Article 7 on the compulsory indication of the country of origin, therefore, is doubly important. It is important for consumers, because it provides information that can guide them in their purchasing decisions, along with other elements provided for by the law. And it is important for the authorities, as it enables them to put in place all the necessary checks. It would be highly advisable to extend the standard to online sales."
Assocalzaturifici took part in a seminar organised by think tank Raggruppamento Europa Sociale in Milan to discuss solutions for the wider luxury and fashion industry.
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