Consumers, businesses urged to join fight against counterfeit sold online

Consumers and businesses are called on to join authorities to curb counterfeit, fake, and smuggled goods on online shopping platforms, particularly as e-commerce has been thriving strongly in Vietnam.

Consumers, businesses urged to join fight against counterfeit sold online hinh anh 1

Illustrative photo

Consumers and businesses are called on to join authorities to curb counterfeit, fake, and smuggled goods on online shopping platforms, particularly as e-commerce has been thriving strongly in Vietnam.

Statistics from the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) show that in 2021, Vietnam’s retail e-commerce market size reached 13.5-13.7 billion USD. In 2022, the figure increased to 16.4 billion USD and is forecasted to reach about 38 - 39 billion USD by 2025.

According to experts, the buying trend of consumers has changed rapidly in the past three years with all items due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from consumer goods, food, drinks, fashion, and cosmetics.

However, according to preliminary statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), authorities receive about 1,500 complaints via hotlines and written documents each year related to online shopping.

Tran Huu Linh, Director General of the MOIT’s General Department of Market Management, said that last year, the market management force nationwide inspected 774 cases relating to e-commerce, detected 439 violations, and collected a total fine of nearly 5.9 billion VND (over 250,000 USD).

“This is still quite a modest number compared to reality,” he said.

Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen, Deputy Director of the MOIT’s E-Commerce and Digital Economy Authority, said that violations that exist in conventional trade all appear in e-commerce. Moreover, it’s easier to conduct violations on the internet while it’s much more difficult to detect and handle them because sellers don’t set up physical warehouses/stores, or goods are stored in many places and they only accept online orders.

Moreover, online stores are easily created and closed in a short time. The product information posted online may be real, but the product delivered to buyers can be fake, she said.

Nguyen Duc Le, Deputy Director of the Operations Department, General Department of Market Management, said that acts of trading counterfeit smuggled goods, those infringing intellectual property rights, and goods of unknown origin are increasingly sophisticated and occur more often in the online environment.

E-commerce activities are based on technology infrastructure, so during the inspection, violators can hide and delete pieces of evidence quickly, making it difficult for law enforcement force.

In addition, for transactions on social networks, it is very difficult to prove them commercial transactions as sellers and buyers use personal accounts to contact each other and pay online too.

Nguyen Huu Tuan, Head of the Department of E-commerce Management under MOIT’s E-Commerce and Digital Economy Authority, said that in many cases, consumers know that the goods are fake or of unknown origin, but still buy or do not denounce them. Meanwhile, many businesses have not paid attention to anti-counterfeiting and brand protection.

Deputy Director of the MOIT’s E-Commerce and Digital Economy Authority Huyen said that to strengthen the control over online counterfeiting goods and promote the development of e-commerce, it is necessary to review and perfect relevant legal framework and increase public legal understanding, especially for traders, organisations and inpiduals.

It’s also a must to increase the responsibility of e-commerce platforms and social networking sites in screening, preventing, and preventing accounts that do not provide sufficient information, and accounts with signs of trading infringing goods.

Moreover, the agency has planned to offer training for businesses and owners of protected trademarks to create a favourable mechanism for complaint settlement, verifying infringing goods as well as strengthening coordination among relevant agencies./.

en.vietnamplus.vn

Related News

Businesses need support from vietnamese representative offices abroad

Businesses need support from vietnamese representative offices abroad

VCN - Several heads of Vietnamese representative offices abroad believe that Vietnamese businesses need to prepare solutions to respond to the changing global economy and meet the increasing demands of the international market.
What do businesses need for digital transformation?

What do businesses need for digital transformation?

VCN - According to experts, to support businesses in successful digital transformation, the state needs to complete the policy framework and testing mechanism (sandbox) for the development of digital economy, green economy, circular economy and new business models. At the same time, reform institutions to attract investment in digital technology in the direction of maximizing convenience for capital contribution, share purchase, merger and acquisition of digital technology enterprises. Create a favorable environment to promote digital transformation and support business development.
The realities of cutting down on business licenses

The realities of cutting down on business licenses

VCN - According to the assessment of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, some regulations and administrative procedures at some agencies, units and localities are cumbersome and have not been thoroughly cut down, causing difficulties for businesses.
Bac Ninh Customs encourages customs brokerage services

Bac Ninh Customs encourages customs brokerage services

VCN - Bac Ninh Customs Department recommends supporting compliant customs brokers to approach large enterprises to have the opportunity to sign contracts and fully perform the role of customs brokers as prescribed.

Latest News

Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

VCN - Every year-end, the smuggling and illegal transportation of prohibited goods tends to increase, especially fireworks and firecrackers. The seizures in recent days show that the illegal trading and transportation of fireworks and firecrackers is getting "hotter".
HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

VCN - In the first 10 months of 2024, the HCM City Customs Department uncovered nearly 2,000 violations, with the value of the seized goods estimated at nearly VND 4.4 trillion.
Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

VCN - The General Department of Vietnam Customs has directed units to promptly inspect and reinforce measures to control and prevent smuggling, as well as the illegal transportation of animals and animal products, with a particular focus on pigs.
Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

VCN - The increase in Special Consumption Tax (SCT) needs to ensure a reasonable roadmap to support domestic tobacco businesses to have time to adapt and stabilize production, thereby minimizing the negative impact on employment of workers in the entire value chain of the industry, ensuring social security.

More News

VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

VCN - From December 15, 2023, to October 14, 2024, market surveillance forces nationwide conducted inspections of 61,079 cases, uncovering and handling 41,725 violations.
Crackdown on counterfeit goods in e-commerce uncovers widespread violations

Crackdown on counterfeit goods in e-commerce uncovers widespread violations

VCN - Although the number of cases uncovered by the Market Surveillance Authority has decreased, the production and sale of goods violating origin, intellectual property, and food safety regulations—especially in e-commerce—have surged compared to last year.
Enforcement authorities busts 67, 000 cases and seizes about 10 tons of drugs

Enforcement authorities busts 67, 000 cases and seizes about 10 tons of drugs

VCN – Since 2022, enforcement authorities have tackled over 67,000 cases and seized over 10 tons of drugs and 7 million synthetic drug pills.
Solutions to prevent or fraud of origin and geographical indication violations

Solutions to prevent or fraud of origin and geographical indication violations

VCN - The Customs Magazine recently interviewed Nguyen Van Hoan, Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Vietnam Customs), to discuss solutions for combating tax evasion, fraud of origin and geographical indication violations in the coming period.
Counterfeit goods in small e-commerce parcels challenge enforcement agencies

Counterfeit goods in small e-commerce parcels challenge enforcement agencies

VCN - The rapid growth of e-commerce has introduced significant challenges for authorities dealing with counterfeit goods. Counterfeit products, often concealed in small parcels sent through e-commerce channels, have become a prominent issue for enforcement agencies.
Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Preventing many cases of importing goods that violate intellectual property rights

Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Preventing many cases of importing goods that violate intellectual property rights

VCN - Many businesses importing goods that violate intellectual property rights have been detected and punished by Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department.
Four business directors face exit bans over persistent tax debts

Four business directors face exit bans over persistent tax debts

VCN - The HCM City Customs Department has issued exit suspension notice for four business directors who have persistently failed to settle their import-export tax debts. The exit restrictions took effect on November 12, 2024.
Prosecuting a trafficking case of drug hidden in air compressors from France to Vietnam

Prosecuting a trafficking case of drug hidden in air compressors from France to Vietnam

VCN - Hanoi City Police have issued a decision to prosecute the case and a suspect for illegally transporting drugs from France to Vietnam.
Search for owners of 59 containers of backlogged machinery and equipment at port

Search for owners of 59 containers of backlogged machinery and equipment at port

VCN - 59 containers of imported goods through Phuoc Long ICD port have not been carried out customs procedures for many months, the Customs has counted and searched for the owners of these shipments.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

Fireworks, firecrackers "hot" again

VCN - Every year-end, the smuggling and illegal transportation of prohibited goods tends to increase, especially fireworks and firecrackers. The seizures in recent days show that the illegal trading and transportation of fireworks and firecrackers is gett
HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

HCM City Customs detects violations worth nearly VND 4.4 trillion

In the first 10 months of 2024, the HCM City Customs Department uncovered nearly 2,000 violations, with the value of the seized goods estimated at nearly VND 4.4 trillion.
Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

Strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and illegal pig transport

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has directed units to promptly inspect and reinforce measures to control and prevent smuggling with a particular focus on pigs.
Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

Combat cigarette smuggling in the context of increasing excise tax

VCN - VCN - The latest data from the General Department of Market Management, Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that despite many efforts by state agencies, the cigarette smuggling situation is still complicated. The latest data from the General Depar
VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

VND 479 Billion contributed to state budget from violations handling

From December 15, 2023, to October 14, 2024, market surveillance forces nationwide conducted inspections of 61,079 cases, uncovering and handling 41,725 violations.
Mobile Version