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200,000 ‘untested, uncontrolled and unsafe’ condoms detected in Europe
The European Anti-Fraud Office uncovered a trafficking route used to distribute counterfeit condoms in Europe, putting the sexual health of thousands of Europeans at risk.
Over 200,000 condoms coming from China — falsely declared as toys — bypassed the European Union quality requirements, exposing consumers to the risk of sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and unsafe chemicals and materials.
In Europe, condoms are categorised as medical devices and must meet strict health and safety standards, including microbial contamination controls, biocompatibility, leak resistance, dimension requirements, shelf life and stability.
The counterfeit products from China bypassed those.
“Counterfeit condoms are dangerous,” European Commission's anti-fraud office chief Petr Klement said in a press release. “They are untested, uncontrolled and unsafe.”
Fake condoms — worth over €200,000 — were seized in Romania, Serbia and Spain.
They were sold in Europe using the name and logo of a well-known brand, according to the European anti-fraud office. The office did not disclose the brand, where the products were sold, or how many of the more than 200,000 condoms had reached consumers.
"It is difficult to give accurate data ... given the nature of illicit networks," a spokesperson of the European office told Euronews Health. As it is "difficult to trace" counterfeit goods, "it is difficult to inform individual consumers" who might have bought such condoms, the spokesperson added.
Working with the Chinese authorities, the European office identified the exporter behind the shipments but did not disclose its identity.
The story was updated with a response from the European Commission's Anti-Fraud Office. The name of the European Anti-Fraud Office was corrected.
20 million cigarettes and over 38 tonnes of tobacco seized in EU countries
Authorities have seized 20 million cigarettes and 38.4 tonnes of tobacco leaf and cut tobacco after dismantling two international criminal networks based in Spain.
European countries, together with the EU's anti-fraud office (OLAF) and Europol, dismantled a multimillion-euro illicit cigarette supply chain, targeting groups suspected of manufacturing, distributing and trafficking counterfeit tobacco products worth an estimated €10 million, OLAF said in a press release.
Last month, officers carried out 23 searches at homes, commercial premises and industrial warehouses across the Spanish provinces of Alicante, Cuenca, Huelva, Murcia, Sevilla and Toledo.
Investigators also confiscated 18 vehicles, tobacco manufacturing equipment, encrypted electronic devices, €170,000 in cash and several firearms. A total of 50 people were arrested, including two suspects who have since been handed over to the Polish authorities.
The operation brought together Spain's Guardia Civil, Poland's Central Bureau of Investigation, Portugal's National Republican Guard, Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau, OLAF and Europol.
"Smoking is dangerous," OLAF chief Petr Klement said. "Smoking counterfeit cigarettes is even worse."
"On top of the harm to health, every illicit cigarette robs taxpayers and rewards organised crime," he added.
OLAF said that the investigations remain ongoing.
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