Counterfeiting of sports equipment, such as soccer balls, helmets, golf clubs, tennis rackets and skis, costs Europe's sporting goods industry €500 million a year, according to a study released Thursday by a branch of the European Union.
The study, which was published by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), estimates an additional €360 million is lost across the EU each year due to the indirect effects of counterfeiting of sports equipment as manufacturers buy fewer goods and services from suppliers, causing knock-on effects in other areas.
The study also shows that some 2,800 jobs are lost annually due to manufacturers selling less and needing to employ fewer people. As the manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit goods do not pay tax or VAT, a further €150 million is lost in government revenues.
A similar study on clothing, footwear and accessories, including sport clothing and footwear, published in July 2015 showed that €26.3 billion of revenue is lost annually by the sector for these products.
“Counterfeit sporting goods can be dangerous for consumers and can disappoint many performing physical activities” said Alberto Bichi, Secretary General of the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI). “This study clearly shows that the economic impact of counterfeiting should also not be neglected. This a call for all parties involved to step-up the fight against fake sporting goods, e.g. through effective legislation combating the sale of fakes on line and increased cooperation between public and private authorities”, he added.
