December 3, 2025
Reading time • 5 min
National Anti-Piracy Day is an opportunity to raise consumer awareness of the risks
National Anti-Piracy Day is celebrated this Wednesday, March 3, providing an opportunity to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of illegal trade. Procon/SC has prioritized the fight against counterfeit products with inspection operations, training for municipal Procons in Santa Catarina, and specific action against alcoholic beverages adulterated with methanol.
According to the National Forum Against Piracy, counterfeit products caused a loss of R$ 468 billion to the Brazilian economy in 2024. The sectors most affected were clothing (R$ 87.4 billion) and alcoholic beverages (R$ 85.2 billion) – both of which were the main topics of PROCON/SC Capacita in early November. The training for municipal inspectors was a four-day event: three days of theoretical lectures and one day of inspections in Greater Florianópolis.
Many consumers still consume counterfeit products without realizing it, which can pose serious health risks. Sunglasses that do not filter UV rays and damage the eyes; sneakers that can cause orthopedic injuries; cell phone chargers that can explode; children’s toys that contain lead or toxic paint. The examples are countless – not to mention the danger of counterfeit medicines.
Procon/SC also provides a booklet against counterfeit products to alert consumers to the harm caused by piracy. In addition, law enforcement authorities say that organized crime is also involved, laundering money and generating profits through illegal trade.
In actions against piracy, Procon/SC usually partners with the Civil Police, the State Council for Combating Piracy (Cecop) (Santa Catarina is the only Brazilian state that has a state agency to combat piracy), the Scientific Police, the Municipal Guard, the Federal Police, and also Imetro-SC. In addition to being an administrative crime, which falls under the jurisdiction of Procon/SC, counterfeiting is also a criminal offense and therefore requires police involvement.
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