Counterfeiting – a danger for people and the economy

The authentication of objects in a way that is foolproof and of universal use has been a challenge in everyday life for some time. This authentication is desirable for many objects, including documents, credit cards and banknotes – all of them attractive to counterfeiters. The manufacturing sector also has to increasingly combat counterfeit goods and fraudulent manipulations for a wide variety of products such as cosmetics, data media or spare parts. These cause economic losses of hundreds of billions of euros worldwide every year. Fake medicines not only cause fi nancial losses but can also endanger health and even life. A recent study has estimated that the cost of fighting fake branded goods and products, as well as product manipulations, illegal imports and organized theft, will increase by an average of 13 per cent globally each year up to 2012. Western Europe, North America and Asia will be particularly affected, simply because of the size of their markets.