Sharjah Customs Authority and BPG sign MoU to curb counterfeits, illicit trade and protect IP rights

The MOU was signed by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports and Customs Authority and Mr. Omar Shteiwi, Regional Intellectual Property Advisor for Nestlé Middle East and Chairman of the BPG, representing the group's members. Attending the signing ceremony was Dr. Rashid Al Leem, General Manager, the Department of Seaports & Customs - Government of Sharjah and Director General/Board Member, Hamriyah Free Zone Authority.

The MOU entails providing technical support and training to officials and units at Sharjah customs for the protection of Intellectual Property rights owned by the members of the Brand Owners Protection Group.

As per the MOU, a cooperation mechanism will be initiated to eliminate counterfeit products which seriously challenge the local economy. Such products have become a serious threat following a liberalized trade regime and exposure to other international markets which do not have a proper system to protect intellectual property rights. Besides endangering consumers, such counterfeit products have a negative impact on the economy in general, on the consumers and pose serious health and safety risks and also it is a crime that breach of the valid Intellectual Property Rights laws of the country.

The Sharjah Customs has adopted a proactive policy towards forming productive partnerships based on transparency to enable its workforce to effectively implement the laws. Such partnerships will also safeguard the local investment environment.

The BPG is a not-for-profit organization set up to fight illegal replication of genuine goods and other forms of illicit trade and strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights. BPG members represented by the MOU are BAT, Beiersdorf, Black & Decker, BMW, Daimler, Estee Lauder, GM, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Kao Brands, Kraft, Master Foods, Nestlé, Philips, Philip Morris, P&G, Sanofi Aventis and Unilever.