Cosmetics "fakes" turned into famous brand products

VCN – Many people take advantage of e-commerce to trade in fake and poor-quality cosmetics. Meanwhile, competent forces do not have enough effective tools to monitor and track transactions as well as retrieve subjects of the transaction, business location, or storage location.
Hanoi Market Surveillance Force destroyed perfume, cosmetics... worth nearly VND 2 billion in July 2021. Source: Directorate of Market Surveillance
Hanoi Market Surveillance Force destroyed perfume, cosmetics... worth nearly VND 2 billion in July 2021. Source: Directorate of Market Surveillance

Difficult to distinguish genuine from fake products

According to Directorate of Market Surveillance (DMS), the advertisement and selling of cosmetics on e-commerce, the internet, social networks, online applications are increasingly popular.

This is a favorable environment for violators take advantage of this environment to avoid inspection and control of competent authorities in order to sell fake and poor quality cosmetic products. Fake cosmetics, goods infringing intellectual property rights are produced sophisticatedly so it is difficult to distinguish them from the real thing.

Competent forces (Police, Market surveillance, etc.) have discovered and handled many domestic production and packaging establishments of fake and poor quality cosmetics (self-mixing of ingredients, packaging, mixing, distribution) and smuggled cosmetics. There were batches of fake cosmetics seized by the competent forces, the subject produced cosmetics from abroad, and then transported them to Vietnam. Besides that, a number of fake cosmetic production facilities that were "noted" by competent forces were also fully equipped with tools and machinery for dispensing, packaging, labeling.

Deputy Director of the Professional Operation Department (Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance) Nguyen Duc Le said that fake and poor quality cosmetics on the market, as well as raw materials to produce fake cosmetics, were mainly imported from abroad, smuggled and hand-carried to Vietnam for consumption.

There were cases where cosmetics smuggled into Vietnam had not yet been labeled with fake labels. After being mixed, extracted, packed, etc., those items were labeled with famous brands in order to bring to the market for consumption. Not only that, the subjects also took advantage of e-commerce to trade in fake goods, infringing intellectual property rights, unknown origin, poor quality, and unsafe.

This also caused difficulties for competent forces due to the lack of effective tools to monitor and track transactions as well as retrieve transaction objects, business locations, and storage locations.

Consumers should be wary

In order to fight and prevent the issue, besides actively collecting information, surveying the market and strengthening inspections as well as handling of violations, DMS has directed the local market surveillance forces to disseminate and sign commitments to each business household in key areas to raise awareness and help business establishments proactively and voluntarily avoid counterfeit and poor quality goods. Along with that, actively working with competent authorities such as Customs and Police to enhance information sharing and coordination in the fight against fake and poor quality cosmetics.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Le warned that if buying fake cosmetics, consumers would both lose money and harm their health. Therefore, consumers should buy cosmetics from credible stores, avoid buying cosmetics of unknown origin. Consumers also needed to pay attention to the information on the packaging, product labels, expiry date, manufacturing address, quality announcement.

For imported cosmetics, consumers needed to carefully understand the origin of the cosmetics, especially the sub-labels in Vietnamese must be full of mandatory information which complied with Vietnamese laws, manufacturing and exports and imports information must be clear.

Furthermore, consumers should also be wary of unusually low-priced products, products that were too cheap compared to the market can potentially pose a risk of unsatisfactory quality, counterfeit goods, etc.

Consumers needed to respond promptly when detecting violations in trading cosmetics to competent authorities such as: market surveillance, police in order for them to be handled as well as protect their legitimate interests in a timely manner.

By Quang Hùng/Thanh Thuy

Related News

Counterfeit and intellectual property infringing goods are becoming more sophisticated

Counterfeit and intellectual property infringing goods are becoming more sophisticated

VCN - In recent times, several containers of counterfeit goods imitating well-known brands and violating intellectual property (IP) rights have been intercepted by Customs authorities at border checkpoints. In an interview with Customs Magazine, Vu Hoai Linh, Deputy Head of Intellectual Property Rights Protection Enforcement Unit (Unit 4) under the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, shared critical solutions to combat and prevent these violations.
Mong Cai: Smuggling concerns amid sluggish business activities

Mong Cai: Smuggling concerns amid sluggish business activities

VCN - Amid a noticeable slowdown in business activities, the Customs Enforcement Units of the Quang Ninh Customs Department in Mong Cai City are stepping up their efforts to combat smuggling, ensuring the area does not become a hotspot for illicit trade.
Suspected rhino horn smuggler intercepted at Noi Bai International Airport

Suspected rhino horn smuggler intercepted at Noi Bai International Airport

VCN - Customs officials at Noi Bai International Airport, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, recently apprehended a Vietnamese passenger suspected of attempting to smuggle animal horns believed to be rhino horns into the country.
Multiple individuals prosecuted for smuggling of “Laughing Gas”

Multiple individuals prosecuted for smuggling of “Laughing Gas”

VCN - Hanoi Police have prosecuted several individuals involved in the smuggling of thousands of tons of nitrous oxide (N₂O), commonly known as “laughing gas”.

Latest News

Customs sector strengthens anti-smuggling during Lunar New Year

Customs sector strengthens anti-smuggling during Lunar New Year

VCN – Smuggling and trade fraud activities are forecast to take place more complicated on routes, areas and cyberspace due to high consumer demand during the Lunar New Year.
Fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at the end of the year

Fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at the end of the year

VCN - VCN - On November 30, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, Head of the National Steering Committee 389, signed and promulgated a peak plan for fight against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2025, from 1/12/2024 to 28/2/2025.
MoF Steering Committee 389 launches a peak campaign against smuggling during Lunar New Year 2025

MoF Steering Committee 389 launches a peak campaign against smuggling during Lunar New Year 2025

VCN - In the coming time, smuggling and trade fraud activities is forecast to take place complicatedly, especially before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2025.
Customs arrests a suspect for transporting about 69 kg of fireworks across Moc Bai Border Gate

Customs arrests a suspect for transporting about 69 kg of fireworks across Moc Bai Border Gate

VCN – On December 4, Moc Bai Border Gate Customs Branch (Tay Ninh Customs Department) said the branch has collaborated enforcement authorities to arrest a suspect transporting about 69kg of firework from Cambodia to Vietnam.

More News

“Watching” authorities to transport smuggled cigarettes

“Watching” authorities to transport smuggled cigarettes

VCN - The methods and tricks of cigarette smugglers are not new, but they are still aggressive, causing difficulties for the authorities.
Ha Tinh Customs arrests two suspects transporting 52 kg of drugs

Ha Tinh Customs arrests two suspects transporting 52 kg of drugs

VCN – Enforcement authorities of Ha Tinh province has tackled special plan HT624 and arrested two suspects transporting 52 kg of drugs.
Vehicle transporting illegal fireworks detected by Nghe An enforcement authorities

Vehicle transporting illegal fireworks detected by Nghe An enforcement authorities

VCN – Enforcement authorities of Nghe An province have detected and seized a vehicle transporting 44.5 kg of illegal fireworks.
Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Timely detection of many cases of false declaration in import documents

Ho Chi Minh City Customs: Timely detection of many cases of false declaration in import documents

VCN - In addition to trade facilitation, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has also proactively inspected and controlled key goods and has detected and prevented many major tax fraud cases.
Quang Tri Customs collaborates to arrest suspect transporting 18,000 synthetic drug pills

Quang Tri Customs collaborates to arrest suspect transporting 18,000 synthetic drug pills

VCN - The Customs Enforcement Team of Quang Tri Customs Department, in coordination with other agencies, recently apprehended a Laotian national for smuggling 18,000 synthetic drug pills into Vietnam.
Need to reduce drug demand

Need to reduce drug demand

VCN - The supply of drugs from abroad to Vietnam has been controlled, but domestic demand remains high, posing many challenges to the fight against this dangerous crime.
Ha Tinh Customs collaborates to apprehend suspect transporting 4kg of methamphetamine

Ha Tinh Customs collaborates to apprehend suspect transporting 4kg of methamphetamine

VCN - According to the Ha Tinh Customs Department, the unit recently collaborated with the Police and Border Guard forces to detect and apprehend a suspect involved in transporting 4 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Tay Ninh Tax Department fines two FDI companies for false tax declaration

Tay Ninh Tax Department fines two FDI companies for false tax declaration

VCN – Tay Ninh Tax Department has detected and fined two FDI enterprises for tax declaration.
Make a difference in fighting counterfeiting and online fraud

Make a difference in fighting counterfeiting and online fraud

VCN - On the morning of November 25, 2024, at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, the launching ceremony of the "Anti-counterfeiting and Online Fraud" Contest and the "Scratch the anti-counterfeit stamp - Get lucky immediately" Awarding Program took place. The contest is expected to take place for 6 months, from November 25, 2024 to May 26, 2025.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Customs sector strengthens anti-smuggling during Lunar New Year

Customs sector strengthens anti-smuggling during Lunar New Year

VCN - The General Department of Customs (GDVC) has issued a peak plan to fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after Lunar New Year 2025.
Counterfeit and intellectual property infringing goods are becoming more sophisticated

Counterfeit and intellectual property infringing goods are becoming more sophisticated

In recent times, several containers of counterfeit goods imitating well-known brands and violating intellectual property (IP) rights have been intercepted by Customs authorities at border checkpoint
Mong Cai: Smuggling concerns amid sluggish business activities

Mong Cai: Smuggling concerns amid sluggish business activities

Customs Enforcement Units of the Quang Ninh Customs Department in Mong Cai City are stepping up their efforts to combat smuggling, ensuring the area does not become a hotspot for illicit trade.
Fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at the end of the year

Fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at the end of the year

VCN - The Committee directs the Tax authority to promote inspection, examination and control operation of taxpayers; combat tax fraud and tax evasion in high-risk business sectors; and strictly manage the use of invoices...
MoF Steering Committee 389 launches a peak campaign against smuggling during Lunar New Year 2025

MoF Steering Committee 389 launches a peak campaign against smuggling during Lunar New Year 2025

VCN - According to Steering Committee 389 of the Ministry of Finance, the smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods has continued to develop complicatedly on border routes, sea areas and inland areas, with new and more sophisticated methods and tricks.
Mobile Version