Seen and heard: counterfeiting news in brief

Chinese fakes impact Korea, Pakistan clamps down on fake meds, Amazon recalls dodgy eclipse sunglasses and fake football kit is seized in UK.

Chinese counterfeits cost South Korea $7bn a year

Counterfeit goods made in China have a deleterious effect on the economy of South Korea, costing local businesses more than $7bn a year, according to an article published on BusinessKorea.co.kr. Chinese counterfeits are spreading to all sectors, ranging from cosmetics and food products to advanced information technology (IT) devices, it says, with counterfeits of Samsung's new smartphones such as the S8 and Note 8 appearing in the Chinese market several days in advance of official international launches.

Pakistan cracks down on falsified medicines

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has kicked off a three-month campaign against the sale of falsified and substandard medicines. The clampdown - which will involve inspections and random sampling of medicines - follows a similar operation last year which resulted in the closure of hundreds of sales outlets, illegal factories, hundreds of jail sentences and fines worth "over 10 crores" (around $100,000), according to a report on thenews.com.pk. In April, Pakistan's government formally gave the green light for the use of 2D datamatrix codes with unique identifiers on medicine packs that will be used to check pharma products for authenticity, with the first deadline for implementation December 2017.

Amazon offers refunds to fake eclipse sunglasses buyers

Amazon has agreed to refund customers who bought counterfeit and potentially hazardous sunglasses designed to view the solar eclipse due on August 21, and says it has taken down listings for the offending items. The move comes after NASA issued a warning about fake glasses and highlighted five manufacturers whose products meet the ISO 12312-2 standard for eclipse glasses. Either side of a total eclipse, where the sun disappears behind the moon, and during a partial eclipse it is dangerous to look directly at the sun, which can cause permanent damage to the eyes.

Fake football strip worth £1m intercepted in UK

Thousands of fake replica football shirts with a retail value of more than £1m ($1.29m) have been seized from a North Staffordshire warehouse in the UK, according to the local Trading Standards unit. The knock-off shirts - which included copies of the strips for Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Porto, Benfica and Paris Saint Germain - were accompanied by quantities of other fake goods including mobile phone components, sunglasses and razor blades. "As well as taking money from reputable businesses, there's no guarantee that counterfeit clothing like these shirts meets high standards and safety legislation, making them potentially dangerous," said Staffordshire County Council’s Gill Heath, who noted some fake clothing doesn't meet fire safety requirements.