TRAVEL agents across the nation have warned outbound customers against wearing clothes or accessories which are imitations of famous international brands, after a Chinese man was embarrassed by French Customs recently.

"We were progressing in a queue at the customs when a man in his 30s was stopped by a French official," www.tianya.cn, a popular Chinese Web site, quoted a Shanghai tour guide as saying.

"The troublemaker was a fake Adidas bag used by the tourist. The bag was confiscated and the man was given two plastic bags to carry his personal belongings."

The tour guide said such spot inspections were a common practice in many European nations. "Quite a number of tourists had their fake brand name goods confiscated each month when the inspections tightened up."

He also said most of those caught were using fake Adidas and Nike goods. The two companies send their own staff to help customs officials spot fake products. "The brand supervisors can tell a fake product at a glance," he said, adding that luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton rarely carry out such inspections.

The guide also explained that established tour operators normally would introduce local laws and customs to travelers before departure and said the unlucky client must have been transferred from another smaller agent.

Users of fake brands face severe punishment in France and Italy, since deluxe fashion goods earn a big share of their revenues.

In France, those caught with less than five pieces of counterfeit designer goods have their belongings confiscated. Those caught with five to 10 articles are fined at least two times the price of the authentic brand-name goods. Those caught with more than 10 items face up to three years in jail and a fine of up to 300,000 euros (US$360,000). France has beefed up its fight against counterfeit goods since 1994, when the LoiLonguet law was passed, allowing brand name producers to join customs officials in spot inspections.

While in Italy, plainclothes and customs officials patrol public places for violators, who face a penalty of up to 10,000 euros.

Editor: Donald