U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Baltimore seized over 10,000 cases of vinyl flooring tiles on February 25, following confirmation from trademark holders that the trademarks were counterfeit. The shipment's value, if authentic, would have exceeded $72,422.
The CBP officers examined the shipment of 10,400 boxes of United Diamond Core SPC vinyl flooring tiles on January 28 after its arrival from China. It was intended for an address in Sheridan, Wyoming. Suspicions arose regarding the UL Greenguard certification mark and the L2C trademark, leading to the detention of the flooring tiles on January 30.
Documentation and photographs were submitted to CBP’s trade experts at the Industrial and Manufacturing Materials Center of Excellence and Expertise for analysis. They confirmed that the UL Greenguard and L2C markings were unauthorized. Consequently, these counterfeit flooring tiles were seized under CBP’s statutory and regulatory authorities.
The UL Greenguard mark ensures low chemical emissions like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are a health concern. The L2C trademark is part of an industry authentication program aimed at detecting infringing products. These certifications assure consumers that products are safe, meet quality standards, and carry a valid manufacturer’s warranty.
Adam Rottman, CBP’s Area Port Director for Baltimore stated: “Consumers could be victimized twice by counterfeit products, such as these flooring tiles. The product could be manufactured using unsafe and substandard materials that pose health and safety threats, and counterfeit products void any associated manufacturer warranties for repair or replacement of inferior or damaged products.”
Counterfeit goods affect legitimate businesses by stealing revenues from trademark holders and tax revenues from governments while funding criminal organizations. These unregulated goods may also threaten consumer safety due to substandard materials or forced labor practices.
For more details on the risks associated with counterfeit goods, visit CBP’s Fake Goods Real Dangers webpage.
In fiscal year 2024 alone, CBP recorded over 32,000 seizures with a potential retail value exceeding $5.4 billion if genuine. U.S. trademark owners can register their intellectual property with CBP through the e-Recordation program for border protection.
CBP operates at Ports of Entry screening international travelers and cargo to prevent illicit activities that could harm public safety or economic vitality in the U.S.
More information about enforcement actions is available on CBP’s IPR webpage or through their social media channels for updates on ongoing operations.
