Chinese manufacturers and visitors found themselves unwelcome at the Milan Furniture Fair following a sweeping Italian law enforcement operation that exposed a nationwide network of counterfeit designer furniture linked to Chinese suppliers.
On April 13th, Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, under the coordination of prosecutors in Turin, launched a large-scale enforcement operation codenamed “Gamba Corta,” meaning Short Leg. The operation dismantled an industrial chain involved in the counterfeiting of designer furniture, focusing on violations of intellectual property rights.
More than a dozen individuals were investigated, and over six categories of counterfeit home products were seized, primarily light fixtures and iconic seating designs. These items were unauthorized replicas of classic Italian industrial designs protected at the European level.
According to the investigation, counterfeit products were imported in large quantities from China and distributed nationwide through a supply chain network made up of 13 Italian companies registered across 10 provinces, including Rome, Milan, and Naples. Through continuous monitoring of retail channels and e-commerce platforms, financial police reconstructed the entire commercial process from overseas importation to domestic sales. During searches spanning six regions, more than 6,500 counterfeit items were seized. Many of the lighting products failed to meet EU electrical safety certification standards, posing risks of fire or electric shock.
A total of 14 individuals have been charged, with allegations including introducing goods with false markings into Italy for trade, handling stolen goods, and commercial fraud.
The operation unfolded just days before the Milan International Furniture Fair. Chinese visitors reported being refused entry at numerous booths. One mainland visitor acknowledged the restrictions were understandable given past conduct at such events, noting that original design drawings had disappeared after being handled by Chinese visitors, and a valuable art album went missing from a design museum following a tour group visit. The album was eventually returned only after surveillance footage confirmed who had taken it.
The counterfeit problem extends beyond Italy. Consumer rights advocates in China have documented widespread deception in furniture sales. One investigation uncovered a mattress marketed as latex that contained only a thin surface layer over plain sponge. Another revealed a so-called solid wood bedroom set where hidden structural components were all particle board, with a headboard advertised as top grain cowhide that turned out to be plastic.
Advocates warn that these products also carry health risks, including dangerously high formaldehyde levels that do not dissipate over time.
Italian financial police stated that the operation is part of an ongoing effort to protect the “Made in Italy” brand and the legitimate rights of consumers and honest businesses.
