P&G working with CBP to stop counterfeit goods

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Procter & Gamble will work to prevent counterfeit P&G products from entering the country, with the company donating testing devices to determine product legitimacy.    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has entered into its first formal program accepting “donations” from the private sector to help enforce intellectual property rights (IPR) with Procter & Gamble (P&G), the agency announced Thursday.
   Under the program, CBP and P&G will work to prevent counterfeit P&G products from entering the U.S. The company will donate testing devices to determine product legitimacy, CBP said.
   Section 308(d) of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) requires CBP to implement regulations for the donation of technologies, training, or other related services to assist the agency in IPR enforcement.
   P&G plans to partner with CBP long term by resupplying, and if necessary, upgrading donated test devices as detection needs evolve, CBP said.
   “CBP views its formal partnership with P&G as an important and significant step towards collaborating on mutually beneficial Intellectual Property Rights solutions,” CBP Office of Trade Executive Assistant Commissioner Brenda Smith said in a statement. “Our long-term agreement with P&G will help strengthen CBP’s immediate and future ability to protect the P&G brand and U.S. consumers.”
   CBP also said that in general, donations may be used for port of entry construction, alterations, operations and maintenance activities.