In January 2009, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its annual report on intellectual property rights (IPR) seizure statistics report for fiscal year 2008.

According to CBP, the value of all seized counterfeit and pirated products for the year ending September 30, 2008 was nearly $273 million, an increase of 38 percent over 2007, including a 43 percent increase in seizures of counterfeit electrical products during 2008 over 2007, with a total value of almost $23 million in 2008.

The category for electrical products represented 8 percent of all seizures and ranked fifth among all product categories of counterfeit goods seized. In 2007, the category for electrical products was the third ranked category of seizures but also represented eight percent of all seizures. Seizures of counterfeit batteries totaled $1.8 million. Other electrical articles seized include power adaptors, extension cords, circuit breakers, and lighting products. The customs data indicates that the counterfeit electrical articles come from China and Hong Kong.

As in previous years, footwear is the leading category of counterfeit products seized with handbags and apparel following. In 2008, seizures of counterfeit pharmaceuticals saw a dramatic increase of 152 percent over 2007.

This data reflects both seizures in the ports by CBP as well as seizures in country by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).