The European Anti-Fraud Office uncovered a trafficking route used to distribute counterfeit condoms in Europe, putting the sexual health of thousands of Europeans at risk.
Over 200,000 condoms coming from China — falsely declared as toys — bypassed the European Union quality requirements, exposing consumers to the risk of sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and unsafe chemicals and materials.
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In Europe, condoms are categorised as medical devices and must meet strict health and safety standards, including microbial contamination controls, biocompatibility, leak resistance, dimension requirements, shelf life and stability.
The counterfeit products from China bypassed those.
“Counterfeit condoms are dangerous,” European Commission's anti-fraud office chief Petr Klement said in a press release. “They are untested, uncontrolled and unsafe.”
Fake condoms — worth over €200,000 — were seized in Romania, Serbia and Spain.
They were sold in Europe using the name and logo of a well-known brand, according to the European anti-fraud office. The office did not disclose the brand, where the products were sold, or how many of the more than 200,000 condoms had reached consumers.
"It is difficult to give accurate data ... given the nature of illicit networks," a spokesperson of the European office told Euronews Health. As it is "difficult to trace" counterfeit goods, "it is difficult to inform individual consumers" who might have bought such condoms, the spokesperson added.
Working with the Chinese authorities, the European office identified the exporter behind the shipments but did not disclose its identity.
The story was updated with a response from the European Commission's Anti-Fraud Office. The name of the European Anti-Fraud Office was corrected.
