The powers of customs authorities in Europe

Recital 5 in the preamble to European Council Regulation No 1383/2003 of July 22, 2003, concerning customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain IP rights, and the measures to be taken against goods found to have infringed such rights, stated that “action by the customs authorities should involve, for the period necessary to determine whether suspect goods are indeed counterfeit goods, pirated goods or goods infringing certain intellectual property rights, suspending release for free circulation, export and re-export or … detaining those goods.”