The Declaration of Intent to Prevent the Maritime Transport of Counterfeit Goods was signed in Brussels by leading global shipping firms, freight forwarders, 10 multinational brand manufacturers and various trade associations.
Signatories include Chanel, P&G, Unilever, Dupont, Lacoste, Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company.
“More transporters, brand owners and their industry associations are expected to join the voluntary initiative as awareness grows,” said the International Chamber of Commerce’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP), which organized the declaration.
More than 90 percent of all international trade is moved in more than 500 million containers on 89,000 maritime vessels, but less than 2 percent of containers are inspected, according to the U.N.
