EUIPO Uncovers Organised Crime Behind Dangerous Food Counterfeiting Business

Food products represent the second most seized category of counterfeit goods at the external borders of the European Union. Items such as biscuits, pasta, crisps, or wines and alcoholic beverages are among those with the highest attempts at fraudulent trade.

This is revealed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), based in Alicante, in a report that analyses the risks and criminal organisations behind this dangerous business that endangers consumer health while negatively impacting the economy and gastronomic heritage.

As part of the 'What's on the Table?' campaign, launched by EUIPO to raise awareness about food counterfeiting, the European office has delved into the vast dimensions of this criminal activity. Europol's 2025 report, "Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment," reveals that with the rise of e-commerce, counterfeiters have also increased their channels to reach end consumers.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish these counterfeit products from genuine ones, and criminal networks "manipulate labels, packaging, and even alter manufacturing processes, focusing on high-value products," explain EUIPO officials.

The office insists that its reports demonstrate that the production and distribution of these products "are often linked to organised crime," and these activities "undermine legitimate businesses, endanger consumer health, and help finance other serious crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, fraud, and even terrorism."

Counterfeiting poses "a very serious public health problem," explains EUIPO Executive Director João Negrão. The office indicates that ongoing police operations have highlighted "the magnitude of the problem." The latest joint operation OPSON, by Europol and Interpol, conducted annually, resulted in the seizure of food products worth 91 million euros.

One of the biggest issues in the field is the counterfeiting of beverages, usually alcoholic, as organised crime groups "employ sophisticated methods to deceive consumers." EUIPO details that counterfeiters "often reuse original bottles or print fake labels to place on empty bottles, making it difficult for consumers and authorities to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent products."

According to the report prepared by European authorities, China and Turkey are among the most frequently cited countries of origin concerning counterfeit food and beverages seized at EU borders.

EUIPO emphasises that food and beverage counterfeiting "constitutes a serious crime that must be combated internationally" and highlights the importance of operations like OPSON, conducted jointly with police forces from 29 countries, which in 2024 led to the seizure of 22,000 tonnes of food and around 850,000 litres of beverages, mostly alcoholic. The operation dismantled eleven criminal networks and resulted in 278 individuals being reported to judicial authorities in connection with the counterfeiting.