Counterfeit and imitation goods overwhelm real goods

	The Government clearly stipulates the responsibilities of each agency in preventing and combating counterfeit money
	Launching an inspection on counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property

Many types of fake and counterfeit goods at the Real and Counterfeit Goods Gallery (General Department of Market Surveillance). Photo: Quang Hung

What do “victims” of counterfeit say?

Since the end of 2021 until now, the General Department of Market Surveillance has put into operation and use the Real and Counterfeit Goods Gallery. The showroom currently has over 600 real and fake products, belonging to 9 fields and industries, including: chemicals and cosmetics; fashion; footwear; household and consumer goods; stationeries; drinks; pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, etc. These are goods that are favored and used frequently by consumers. Therefore, displaying real and fake goods helps consumers have more information channels to identify real and fake goods, raising awareness in choosing products.

Chairman of the Vietnam Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Association (VBA) Nguyen Van Viet said that smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods of beer, alcohol and soft drinks are increasingly common and more complex than before. The reason why fake and counterfeit goods overwhelm real goods is because of their low commercial value. Counterfeit and counterfeit goods for beer and wine products mainly occur in small retail establishments, appearing in remote areas and places with low economic conditions.

“The raw materials for beer and wine production are mostly imported, with prices increasing (by 25-30%). As for canned beer products, they are divided into 4 types: high-end (350,000-400,000 VND/barrel), near-premium (300-350,000 VND/barrel); popular (250,000-300,000 VND/barrel) and affordable (200,000-250,000 VND/carton). However, currently on the market there are low-cost beer products, with prices ranging from only 110,000-120,000 VND/barrel with eye-catching packaging and designs. So, is there a phenomenon of production of fake and counterfeit goods?", Mr. Nguyen Van Viet worried.

Not only the beer, wine, and beverage industries, smuggled goods, counterfeit goods, and poor quality goods also penetrate many industries, even medicines, spare parts, and machine components are also counterfeited.

Ms. Nguyen Dieu Ha, General Secretary of the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Association, said that, in response to the requirement to open and integrate the economy, drug import procedures are increasingly being reduced, increasing the risk of counterfeit drugs and smuggled drugs penetrating from foreign countries into Vietnamese market.

Medicines are high-value goods, while their weight and volume are compact, easy to transport, and easy to hide to avoid inspection and control by the authorities. Counterfeit drug production brings high profits, unskilled individuals still produce fake drugs even without factories or modern production lines. Along with that, consumers do not have the knowledge to recognize fake drugs.

According to the representative of the Vietnam Motorcycle Manufacturers Association, in 2023, counterfeit goods show no signs of decreasing, including motorcycle spare parts and components. Counterfeit motorbike spare parts and components are mostly goods of unknown origin, violating intellectual property rights.

Restore business order

Ms. Nguyen Dieu Ha proposed that the National Steering Committee 389 and state management agencies need to organize unexpected interdisciplinary inspections and examinations to promote the roles and responsibilities of units and create deterrence for violating businesses and individuals. At the same time, promote the focal role in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods at Steering Committees 389 of ministries, branches and localities.

Coordinate with media agencies and professional associations to promote propaganda about fake drugs and drugs of unknown origin. Enhance the leadership role of the National Steering Committee 389 and the Steering Committee 389 of ministries, branches and localities in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

Mr. Nguyen Van Viet proposed that the competent forces need to strengthen the management of licensing business of beer, wine, and soft drinks, especially focusing on controlling food safety and hygiene issues. Along with that, management agencies need to review activities of licensing businesses for the production and trading of beer, alcohol, and beverages.

The Vietnam Motorcycle Manufacturers Association wants state management agencies to organize market control campaigns to strictly handle fake and counterfeit goods. This activity needs to be deployed unexpectedly and regularly to restore order and raise awareness of organizations and business households.

On December 8, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the National Steering Committee 389, signed and issued a peak plan to combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after Giap Thin Lunar New Year 2024.

In this Plan, the National Steering Committee 389 sets the goal of strengthening the work of directing, inspecting, urging and guiding the Steering Committee 389 of ministries, branches and localities to proactively and promptly control the situation of smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods; Regularly exchange and share information, coordinate to inspect, control, detect, fight, arrest and handle acts of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods to prevent and repel smuggling activities and illegal transportation of goods across borders, border gates, and sea areas; commercial fraud and tax evasion activities; acts of buying, selling and transporting prohibited goods, smuggled goods, production and trading of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights, etc.

The Steering Committee 389 of ministries, branches and localities seriously implements the instructions of the Government, Prime Minister, and National Steering Committee 389 on combating smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods; Proactively direct the organization of forces and means, and have appropriate solutions to effectively carry out the task of combating smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the fields and areas of management and responsibility.