U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News recently seized about $38,000 worth of commercial kitchen equipment after discovering a counterfeit UL mark during an import inspection. The shipment, which included grills, fryers, and ovens, was being sent from Jordan to a suburb in Chicago.
The inspection took place on July 30 when CBP officers noticed that the product plates on the stainless steel kitchen equipment lacked required UL certification file numbers. The UL mark is intended to certify that products meet minimum safety standards for consumers.
After detaining the shipment, CBP officers consulted with trade experts at the Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE). These experts worked with UL brand protection specialists to confirm that the UL design mark was unauthorized. As a result, CBP officers seized the equipment on August 25 under their statutory and regulatory authority.
Counterfeit consumer goods can pose risks to health and safety due to substandard materials or manufacturing practices. They may also be produced in facilities using forced labor. The trade in counterfeit goods undermines legitimate businesses, reduces tax revenue, and can fund criminal organizations.
“Counterfeit consumer goods pose a serious health and safety threat to consumers who use them, but potentially substandard counterfeit kitchen equipment in a restaurant setting poses an even greater and broader risk to diners and employees alike,” said Keri Brady, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director for the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News. “Customs and Border Protection officers and specialists take extraordinary pride in our import enforcement mission because we know that we could be the difference in helping keep consumers safe.”
CBP advises consumers to buy authentic products from reputable retailers. More information about counterfeit goods is available through CBP’s Fake Goods Real Dangers webpage (https://www.cbp.gov/FakeGoodsRealDangers).
CBP enforces intellectual property rights through various programs. In fiscal year 2024 alone, CBP seized over 32 million counterfeit items valued at more than $5.4 billion if genuine.
Further details about enforcement actions can be found on CBP’s IPR webpage (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/ipr), IPR Dashboard (https://iprdashboard.cbp.gov/), or Annual IPR Seizures Reports (https://www.cbp.gov/document/reports/intellectual-property-rights-seizure-statistics).
Trademark and copyright owners can register their intellectual property with CBP via its e-Recordation program (https://iprr.cbp.gov/s/). Individuals with information about illegal imports of counterfeit merchandise are encouraged to submit tips through CBP’s e-Allegation Program (https://eallegations.cbp.gov/Home/Index2).
CBP's Office of Field Operations leads border security efforts at ports of entry by screening travelers and cargo for prohibited or dangerous items that could affect public safety or economic stability.
For more information about daily operations or updates from regional offices, visit www.CBP.gov or follow @DFOBaltimore on Twitter and @cbpfieldops on Instagram.
