My parcel was seized
If customs stop a parcel because they think it holds fake branded goods, they usually write to you first. In the EU you have 10 working days to answer, and no answer can count as agreement to destroy the goods. In the UK you have one calendar month from the seizure. In the US you can file a petition with CBP. Seized fakes are normally destroyed.
| Country | What customs do | How to challenge |
|---|---|---|
| United States | The personal exemption (one article of each type with a counterfeit mark, every 30 days) applies to goods that come with a person arriving in the US, not to parcels. Goods with a counterfeit mark are seized and, unless the brand owner agrees in writing, forfeited; CBP tells the brand owner about the import. | You can ask CBP for the goods back or for a lower penalty with a petition, filed online through ePetition. source |
| United Kingdom | Border Force works with brand owners to check whether goods are genuine, and brand owners can choose to prosecute importers privately. Customs will destroy or sell anything it seizes from you, unless you challenge it. | Send a notice of claim within one calendar month of the seizure (Notice 12A), or ask for the goods back (restoration) within 45 days. source |
| European Union | A small consignment is a postal or courier parcel with three units or less, or under 2 kg. Customs tell you within one working day and say they intend to destroy the goods; you have 10 working days to give your view. | Answer the customs notice within 10 working days (Regulation 608/2013, Article 26); the national customs office named in the letter handles it. source |
| Germany | Even one fake item bought for private use counts as trade when it is ordered from an online shop. Goods in a parcel do not count as carried in personal luggage. | You have one month to object to a destruction decision; against a national confiscation (Einziehung) you have two weeks. The local Hauptzollamt decides. source |
| Poland | For postal and courier parcels with no more than three units, the goods can be destroyed in a simplified procedure with the receiver's consent; brand owners can ask for prosecution. Customs can hold goods for 4 working days without a brand owner request. | Answer the customs notice within 10 working days (EU Regulation 608/2013, Article 26). We found no Polish government page for private receivers. source |
| Canada | Goods carried by a person in their possession or baggage, in personal-use amounts, are not prohibited; parcels are not baggage. Suspected fakes can be detained up to 10 working days after CBSA contacts the brand owner; if the owner does not go to court in time, the goods are released. | Request a ministerial review within 90 calendar days of the enforcement action. source |
| Australia | A single product can be seized if it is believed to be for commercial use. Seized goods that are forfeited are usually destroyed or donated to charity. | Make a claim for release within ten working days of the notice; the brand owner then has ten working days to start legal action, or the goods are released. source |
Other countries
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Questions
What happens if my reps parcel is seized?
If customs stop a parcel because they think it holds fake branded goods, they usually write to you first. In the EU you have 10 working days to answer, and no answer can count as agreement to destroy the goods. In the UK you have one calendar month from the seizure. In the US you can file a petition with CBP. Seized fakes are normally destroyed.
Will I get my money back if customs seize my parcel?
Customs do not refund the seller. Whether you get money back depends on your agent's insurance or the seller; check your agent's terms before you ship.
Do I get in trouble if a parcel with fakes is seized?
Official pages describe seizure and destruction of the goods. In the UK, brand owners can choose to prosecute importers privately; in Poland, brand owners can ask for prosecution. Check your country page for the exact rules.
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.