Angola joins EUIPO, INPI Portugal and Regional Partners to Combat Counterfeiting in PALOP Nations
Luanda, Angola (May 27 to 29, 2025) — Angola takes centre stage in the fight against counterfeit goods as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) hosts a landmark regional workshop in Luanda alongside The National Institute of Industrial Property of Angola (IAPI) and Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property (INPI Portugal), in the framework of the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) international cooperation project. Focused on advancing anti-counterfeiting efforts across Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP), the event builds on the success of the inaugural workshop in Cabo Verde. It underscores Angola’s leadership in fostering regional economic resilience and consumer safety.
The dangers of counterfeit goods extend far beyond economic losses. According to OECD/EUIPO (2022), Dangerous Fakes: Trade in Counterfeit Goods that Pose Health, Safety and Environmental Risks, Illicit Trade, OECD Publishing, Paris, fake medicines cause an estimated 169,000 child deaths annually from malaria alone, while toxic cosmetics and adulterated alcohol have led to multiple poisoning deaths worldwide. Counterfeit pesticides and electronics containing hazardous materials like lead and mercury also pose serious environmental threats through improper disposal. This workshop will address these critical health and safety risks while strengthening regional capacity to intercept dangerous fakes.
The workshop brings together policymakers, enforcement agencies and business leaders from Angola and broader PALOP nations to design actionable strategies for combating counterfeit trade. Central to the discussions will be the creation of a roadmap for the establishment of national Anti-Counterfeiting Groups (GACs) in PALOP, aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Participants will also explore synergies with the EU-Angola Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA), which entered into force in September 2024, emphasising how robust intellectual property (IP) frameworks can attract foreign investment and secure Angola’s position as a hub for transparent, sustainable business practices.
The event reflects a shared commitment among Angolan, regional, and global partners. IAPI has spearheaded local coordination, ensuring alignment with Angola’s national development priorities, while INPI Portugal has contributed technical expertise rooted in historical and linguistic ties. This builds on existing cooperation with the EUIPO under the AfrIPI project, including Angola’s recent integration into TMClass, including the Harmonised Database for TMs goods and services (HDB), and DesignClass including the Harmonised Database for Product Indications (HDBPI). The EUIPO, host of the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, INTERPOL, ACA (Anti-Counterfeiting Agency in Kenya), CNLC (Comité National de Lutte contre la Contrefaçon of Côte d’Ivoire), ARIPO, OAPI, and the European Commission, will further enrich discussions with insights on cross-border enforcement and data-driven strategies.
Expected Outcomes and Next Steps
The hybrid-format workshop will yield a model roadmap for national GACs, actionable policy recommendations, and a virtual technical exchange. These efforts will reinforce Angola’s and other PALOP countries’ institutional capacities, enhance interagency collaboration, and lay the groundwork for expanding anti-counterfeiting initiatives to other Portuguese-speaking African nations.