National Customs Agency

Customs officers from the TD Customs Burgas seized 16 995 wristwatches imitating the industrial design of a global trademark. It has been established that the items infringe intellectual property rights.

Watches with a 'branded' design were discovered during a customs inspection of a container of goods – in transit from China to Turkey via Bulgaria. It arrived by sea to Burgas for transport to the final destination by truck. After a risk analysis was carried out, officers from the 'Customs Intelligence and Investigation' department selected the container for a thorough customs inspection. During the control actions, inspectors found among the declared goods 16 995 mechanical wristwatches resembling the design of a protected trademark.

The watches have been seized in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the enforcement of intellectual property rights. The rights holder has been notified, and has officially confirmed that the watches were produced in violation of his rights. They are subject to destruction under customs supervision at the expense of the design rights holder.

Since the beginning of the year, customs officers from the TD Customs Burgas have seized nearly 1 million commercial items for violations of intellectual property rights and to protect consumers from counterfeit and substandard 'branded' goods.