The Azores, through the Regional Inspectorate of Economic Activities, an entity under the administration of Vice-Presidency of the Government, has joined the Anti-Counterfeiting Group promoted by INPI - National Institute of Industrial Property in order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against the damaging effects of the shadow economy in companies as well as of consumer protection.
 
Patents, trademarks, designs and other Industrial Property modalities grant exclusive rights that prevent a third party, without consent, from exploiting a product or an ongoing patent process.
 
It also prevents third parties from using identical or similar brands for the same products and related products or from using a patented design or model.
 
With regard to companies, counterfeiting generates a sharp drop in revenue in addition to causing a huge non-pecuniary loss; this adds up to costs on investigation and defence of industrial property rights.
 
As for consumers, counterfeiting may even endanger the health and safety, for example, of toys, personal products and electronic and household appliances.
 
In the social field, counterfeiting contributes to unemployment, illegal work and illegal immigration; therefore, their combat should be awarded priority status.
 
Besides IRAE, the working group includes ASAE - Economic and Food Safety Authority, Tax and Customs Authority, PSP (Public Security Police), GNR (National Republican Guard), Criminal Police and brand representatives.
 
IRAE is the regional administrative authority with expertise in the area of food safety and economic oversight.
 
It is in charge of evaluating and communicating risks in the food chain as well as supervising the exercise of economic activities in the food and non-food sectors, through the monitoring and prevention of compliance with regulatory legislation.