The main products are designer clothing, trainers, perfume, toiletries, sunglasses and electrical goods.
Parallel trade occurs for a number of reasons.
The Trade Marks Directive was initially proposed in the early 1980s. At this time parallel imports were not a major concern as markets were less global. The Directive was introduced to harmonise trade mark laws throughout the EU and assure consumers of the authenticity of a product. The judge ruled in favour of the sunglasses manufacturer and effectively outlawed the importation of cheaper goods from outside the EU without the manufacturer's consent. This ruling changed the Trade Marks Directive by allowing brand owners to control the market and prevent their goods being sold at discount prices.