The Egyptian Customs Authority, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. and Nestlé Egypt S.A.E (NESTLÉ) have yesterday (December 7, 2006) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as part of an organized strategy to cooperate and jointly fight counterfeits and smuggling.
The MOU, the first of its kind in Egypt, relates to the Border Measures for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Instructions No. 770 of 2005. It entails providing technical support and training to officials and units at all Customs points for the protection of Intellectual Property rights owned by NESTLÉ.
Mr. Galal Abu El Fotouh, the Commissioner of Egyptian Customs Authority, Mr. Jean-Pierre Maeder, Assistant Vice-President and Group Head of Trademarks on behalf of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Switzerland, and Mr. André Porchet, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Egypt S.A.E, signed the MOU.
The signing Ceremony of the MOU was supported by His Excellency Dr. Youssef Boutros Ghali, Minister of Finance and attended by his Excellency Mr. Charles-Edouard Held, Ambassador of Switzerland in Egypt and both expressed their congratulations and support to the parties.
As per the MOU, a cooperation mechanism will be initiated to eliminate counterfeit products which seriously challenge the region. Such products have become a serious threat following a liberalized trade regime and exposure to other markets in the region which do not have a proper system to protect intellectual property rights. Besides endangering consumers, such counterfeit products have a negative impact on businesses.
Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) bearing well-known trademarks are the most affected by fake goods. Therefore, as NESTLÉ’s top priority is to provide safe and healthy products to the consumer, it has been among the first multinationals to join the Egyptian Customs Authority in an organized strategy to support the investment environment in the country.
The MOU is in compliance with the international agreements that Egypt has entered into as per the WTO stipulations. Egypt joined the WTO in 1995.
The Egyptian Customs Authority has adopted a proactive policy towards forming productive partnerships based on transparency to enable its workforce implement the laws effectively. Such partnerships will also safeguard the local investment environment.
Egyptian Customs Authority plays a major role within the Egyptian Government and executes the monitoring and inspection on any suspicious NESTLÉ Counterfeited products on the movements imported and exported goods from and to the country.
NESTLÉ, the world's biggest food and beverage company founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlé, is headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. For the year 2005 the company reported sales to the tune of CHF91 billion. NESTLÉ employs around 250,000 people and have factories or operations in almost every country in the world.
Further information is available at Nestlé website at www.nestle.com
