BALTIMORE (WBFF) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than 10,000 cases of vinyl flooring tiles in Baltimore on Feb. 25, after trademark holders confirmed the trademarks were counterfeit. The shipment, had it been authentic, was valued at over $72,422.
CBP officers initially examined the shipment of 10,400 boxes of United Diamond Core SPC vinyl flooring tiles on Jan. 28, after it arrived from China. The shipment was destined for an address in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Authorities suspected that the UL Greenguard certification mark and the L2C trademark were counterfeit and seized the flooring tiles on Jan. 30.
CBP officers submitted documentation and photographs to CBP’s trade experts at the Industrial and Manufacturing Materials Center of Excellence and Expertise for analysis, and they verified that the UL Greenguard and L2C markings were used without authorization.
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The counterfeit flooring tiles were subject to seizure under CBP’s statutory and regulatory authorities.
“Consumers could be victimized twice by counterfeit products, such as these flooring tiles. The product could be manufactured using unsafe and substandard materials that pose health and safety threats, and counterfeit products void any associated manufacturer warranties for repair or replacement of inferior or damaged products,” said Adam Rottman, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Baltimore, via press release. “Customs and Border Protection and our consumer safety partners urge consumers to protect themselves and their families by always buying authentic products from reputable vendors.”
The international trade in counterfeit consumer goods is illegal, the CBP explained via a press release.
They said it steals revenues from trademark holders, steals tax revenues from the government, funds transnational criminal organizations, and the unregulated products potentially threaten the health and safety of American consumers. Counterfeiters manufacture consumer goods using substandard materials and parts that either break prematurely or could harm consumers. Counterfeit consumer goods may also be sourced or manufactured in facilities that employ forced labor, the CBP says.
For more information about the consequences and dangers often associated with the purchase of counterfeit goods, you can visit the Truth Behind Counterfeits public awareness campaign website at CBP’s Fake Goods Real Dangers webpage.
