Are reps illegal?
Official pages in the US, EU, Germany and Canada all say the same thing about personal use: the exception for fake branded goods covers items a traveller carries in luggage, not parcels. German customs say even one fake ordered online for private use counts as trade. So a parcel with fakes can be stopped, and the goods are normally destroyed. This page lists what each official source says. It is not legal advice.
| Country | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| United States | One fake article of each type every 30 days, only when it comes with you as a traveller. source |
| United Kingdom | Border Force works with brand owners; brand owners can prosecute importers privately. source |
| European Union | Non-commercial goods are left alone only in travellers' personal luggage, not in parcels. source |
| Germany | Even one fake bought for private use counts as trade when it is ordered from an online shop. source |
| Poland | Small parcels with fakes can be destroyed with the receiver's consent; brand owners can ask for prosecution. source |
| Canada | Personal-use amounts are allowed in your possession or baggage; parcels are not baggage. source |
| Australia | A single item can be seized if it is believed to be for commercial use. source |
Other countries
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Questions
Are reps illegal to buy?
Official pages in the US, EU, Germany and Canada all say the same thing about personal use: the exception for fake branded goods covers items a traveller carries in luggage, not parcels. German customs say even one fake ordered online for private use counts as trade.
Are reps illegal in the UK?
Official UK pages describe Border Force seizing counterfeits and brand owners being able to prosecute importers privately. Seized goods are destroyed or sold unless you challenge within one calendar month.
Are reps illegal in Germany?
German customs say even one fake item bought online for private use counts as trade, so customs can seize it; for small parcels you have 10 working days to respond.
Is it illegal to buy reps in the US?
The personal exemption for one counterfeit article per type applies only to goods that come with a person arriving in the US. Goods with counterfeit marks are seized, forfeited and destroyed.
This is general information from official government and EU pages, checked on 20 October 2026; it is not legal advice. Rules changed often in 2025 and 2026, so open the linked source before you rely on it. GRAILS sells nothing and is not an agent.