STOP PRESS: Customs enforcement in the EU - new requirements
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From 15 September 2020, marks a new chapter in Customs enforcement in the EU. From yesterday, all rights holders wishing to lodge an Application for Action (AFA) requesting Customs to seize counterfeit products bearing their trade marks, or to renew an existing AFA, must have an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number.
The purpose of this change is to facilitate the transition to the electronic submission of AFA applications and renewals in Q3 2021. Details of the new requirements are set out in a notice to stakeholders.
An AFA can be a national or EU wide application depending on the intellectual property rights' basis. An EU AFA when granted in one EU member state has the same legal status in all other member states.
An EORI number can be obtained from the competent customs authority for EORI registration in the country where the applicant is established. If you would like help to obtain an EORI number, or to file an AFA requesting Customs to help enforce your intellectual property rights, please contact the Fieldfisher IP team.