In 2003 Russian industries' total losses due to counterfeiting will be $4-5 billion, Peter Necarsulmer, president of the Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) said in Moscow on Wednesday.

He noted that Russia lost over $1 billion due to counterfeiting in 2001, and over $2 billion in 2002.

Peter Necarsulmer called the food, pharmaceutical, recording and car fuel industries the most vulnerable in terms of counterfeiting. Losses resulting from the sales of counterfeit fuel amount to some $1 billion, from counterfeit drugs they are $300 million, and from counterfeit audio and video equipment they are $250 million a year.

"These industries must work much harder and join with coalitions of all IP holders if they hope to persuade government officials and consumers that piracy is very costly to the state,'' Necarsulmer said.

Peter Necarsulmer said that CIPR would work even harder with brandholders, customs and law enforcement authorities. In particular, one of the effective methods might be exercising control over retail distributors and sellers in the products they are selling.

CIPR's members include a number of the world's most famous trademark owners in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, fashion, computer, tobacco and luxury goods industries. CIPR dedicated solely to protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights in the CIS countries and the Baltic States.