The Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) created a campaign to combat “piracy” in the form of counterfeit footwear.

The campaign – No to Piracy in Brazil! Only original footwear – will include data gathering on counterfeit operations and cooperation with authorities to tackle rogue businesses. Meanwhile, Abicalçados will work with companies in counterfeit protection and prevention to help combat piracy.

The organisation has also been invited to join the new Working Group to Combat Illegal Brazil, which includes government representatives alongside industry federations.

Abicalçados CEO Haroldo Ferreira said that the problem lies with imports from countries, particularly in Asia, that have a “low level of ratification of international labour standards established in the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation”.

He said: “In addition to being unfair competition for national footwear, these products cause problems for the environment and human rights, and also take jobs away from the country.”