Crackdown on Counterfeit Goods: ČOI Withdraws Around 22,000 Products in 2025

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority intensified its actions against the trade in counterfeit goods in 2025. Textiles and children’s toys were particularly affected.

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (Česká obchodní inspekce | ČOI) last year carried out an extensive campaign against the trade in counterfeit goods. The focus was on enforcing the ban on offering, selling, or storing products that infringe on trademark rights.

Between 2 January and 31 December 2025, all regional inspectorates of the authority conducted a total of 676 inspections. In 506 cases (74.85 per cent), inspectors identified breaches of legal regulations. In 324 inspections – corresponding to 47.93 per cent of all businesses checked – the breaches specifically concerned the prohibition on offering, selling, or storing goods that violate trademark or other intellectual property rights.

Foto: Česká obchodní inspekce

Based on the identified breaches, the ČOI issued 410 legally binding fines in 2025, totalling 7,997,000 CZK. Of these, 253 fines amounting to 6,668,000 CZK were related to violations of § 8 of the Consumer Protection Act.

In addition to financial penalties, inspectors seized 21,856 counterfeit products. The estimated value of these goods – calculated based on original prices (reference value) – amounts to around 82.6 million CZK. Products whose confiscation or forfeiture is legally confirmed are subsequently destroyed or used for humanitarian purposes.

In many cases, the Trade Inspection Authority collaborated with other authorities during inspections, including trade offices, the Czech Customs Administration, the police, and the Environmental Inspection.

Breaches were most frequently found in small shops and retail establishments (188 cases), followed by markets with 98 infringements. The authority also intervened in online trade: legal violations were identified in 21 online shops, in addition to two cases on online marketplaces such as TEMU and Aukro, and once in the area of social networks.

The goods most affected were textiles and products for children, particularly toys and games. Among the seized counterfeits, brands such as Nike, Guess, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, and Chanel dominated in the textile sector. In toys, counterfeits of LEGO and Pokémon were particularly common.