Criminal Justice (Counterfeiting) Bill 2019

The Government approved the drafting of the Criminal Justice (Counterfeiting) Bill along the lines of the General Scheme below on 17 July 2019.

The Bill will transpose most provisions of Directive 2014/62/EU on the protection of the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting by criminal law which replaces Council Framework Decision 2000/383/JHA. This Directive establishes minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the area of counterfeiting of the euro and other currencies.

The Bill will also provide for the implementation and transposition of three interrelated EU legal instruments in respect of the fitness-checking and protection of the euro currency against counterfeiting:

• regulation 44/2009 of 18 December 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting
• council Regulation 1210/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2010 concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro coins unfit for circulation
• decision of the European Central Bank (ECB/2010/14) of 16 December 2010 on the authenticity and fitness checking of bank notes

Draft General Scheme of Criminal Justice (Counterfeiting) Bill 2019