Andema Joins EU Anti-Counterfeit Online Pact
The Spanish trademark association signs on to a European Commission memorandum targeting counterfeit goods sold on the internet.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
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Andema, the Spanish association that defends companies' trademark rights, has signed the memorandum of understanding on counterfeit goods sold online as an intellectual property rights holder. The agreement is facilitated by the European Commission and joins 35 other stakeholders already working under it.
Why it matters
Counterfeit goods harm businesses, reduce jobs and tax revenues, and often endanger consumer health and safety. The memorandum aims to curb their sale online by bringing rights holders, online platforms and business associations into a shared cooperative framework.
The agreement already includes 35 stakeholders, and Andema's accession brings the total to 36 participants. A 2020 evaluation report documented continuous cooperation on removing counterfeit goods from online marketplaces, but the extraction does not state what impact Andema's participation will have.
The players
Andema
Andema is the Spanish association that defends companies' trademark rights and represents rights holders in Spain.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union, which facilitates the memorandum of understanding and encourages cooperation between rights holders and intermediary service providers.
The details
Andema signed the memorandum as an intellectual property rights holder, joining rights holders, online platforms and business associations. The agreement is part of the Commission's broader approach to e-commerce import challenges, and the evaluation report describes practices such as proactive measures, notice-and-takedown procedures and tackling repeat infringers.
Timeline
August 2020: Evaluation report on the memorandum of understanding was published.
February 2025: The Commission published its E-Commerce Communication.
November 2, 2026: Andema joined the memorandum of understanding.
Market Landscape
The memorandum of understanding is an existing EU-facilitated framework that has grown to 35 stakeholders before Andema's entry. Andema's accession extends this voluntary cooperation model, which the Commission's 2025 E-Commerce Communication places within its broader approach to online import challenges.
Consumers buying goods online may see fewer counterfeit listings if platforms adopt the notice-and-takedown and repeat-infringer practices described in the evaluation report. The extraction does not specify timelines for measurable changes in marketplace listings.
The takeaway
Voluntary cooperation between rights holders and online platforms is becoming a central tool in the EU's effort to keep counterfeit goods off e-commerce sites. Consumers and businesses alike benefit when these partnerships expand beyond initial participants.
Further reading
Explore related coverage in the Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EU Reporter.
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