On 10 July 2026, INDICAM and the Municipality of Sanremo signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening counterfeiting prevention and enforcement activities across the local area, while promoting joint awareness, training and information initiatives for consumers, businesses and competent authorities.
The agreement marks an important step forward in reinforcing public-private cooperation and establishes a structured framework for collaboration across several areas, including monitoring counterfeiting activities, developing consumer awareness campaigns, organising training programmes for local enforcement authorities and promoting initiatives designed to foster a culture of legality and respect for intellectual property rights.
The signing of the Memorandum is particularly significant for a strategic area such as Sanremo and the Province of Imperia, which is characterised by a strong commercial and tourism sector as well as its proximity to the French border. The area’s cross-border dimension and the constant flow of people and goods make close cooperation between public institutions, law enforcement agencies and rights holders essential to preventing and combating the trade in counterfeit products.
As an immediate demonstration of the parties’ commitment to implementing the Memorandum, INDICAM returned to Sanremo on 18 July with its Anti-Counterfeiting Information Booth (Gazebo Anticontraffazione), a public awareness initiative aimed at informing both residents and tourists about the economic, social and health risks associated with the purchase of counterfeit goods.
The initiative was organised under the patronage of the Municipality of Sanremo and the Sanremo Local Police, in cooperation with Confesercenti, Confcommercio and the Riviere di Liguria Chamber of Commerce, with the participation of the Prefecture of Imperia, the Italian State Police, the Guardia di Finanza and the Representative of the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes for Franco-Italian Affairs and Cross-Border Cooperation, reflecting the strong institutional commitment to tackling counterfeiting.
Throughout the day, visitors received educational materials and practical guidance on how to recognise genuine products, while experts explained the economic, social and public safety consequences of purchasing counterfeit goods. The initiative attracted significant public interest and provided an opportunity to engage directly with citizens, encouraging more informed purchasing choices and raising awareness of the importance of protecting intellectual property.
The awareness campaign complemented the ongoing enforcement activities carried out by the competent authorities across the area. Indeed, the seizure of counterfeit goods during the summer season confirms that counterfeiting continues to pose a significant challenge for tourist destinations, highlighting the importance of combining enforcement measures with continuous public awareness and prevention initiatives. In this context, the Memorandum between INDICAM and the Municipality of Sanremo represents a best-practice example of cooperation, bringing together operational activities, training and public outreach in the shared belief that only coordinated action between institutions, businesses and citizens can effectively protect legality, the marketplace and consumers.
This initiative marks the beginning of a broader programme of cooperation that will continue over the coming months through further joint activities across the territory, with the aim of establishing a stable network for prevention, strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and promoting an ever-growing culture of intellectual property protection and informed consumer choices.