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Mr. Do Hong Trung, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389 shared about the reality of counterfeit goods and fake goods on e-commerce.

Fake goods increase

Mr. Do Hong Trung, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389, said that in the past period, Vietnam has had an impressive e-commerce growth index, which is a mark of the digital economy. This is shown when the size of the retail e-commerce market in 2022 was estimated at USD 16.4 billion, accounting for 7.5% of the country's sales of consumer goods and services. There were about 57 - 60 million Vietnamese people shopping online with a value of USD 260 - 285/year/person in 2022.

Through evaluation by reputable organizations; Vietnam is ranked among the top 5 countries with the world's leading e-commerce growth rate.

Through the above data, it shows that e-commerce is becoming a big market for buying and selling goods in Vietnam and has space for strong development in the coming time. It is forecasted that by 2025, according to the Southeast Asia Internet Economic Report of Google, e-commerce in Vietnam will reach about USD 29 billion.

Vietnam e-commerce currently has hundreds of floors operating in the form of e-commerce business websites. In addition, e-commerce activities are carried out on other social platforms such as tiktok, zalo, facebook, instagram (various forms of sales).

In addition to the positive development of e-commerce, the situation of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, smuggled goods, goods of unknown origin being widely sold on e-commerce platforms and social networking sites is a problem of society, affecting the interests of consumers, business investment environment, causing loss of budget revenue, it can be very simple when searching to buy these items on e-commerce floors.

According to a report from the Steering Committee 389 of ministries, branches and localities, in the first months of 2023, violations of the law on production and trading of counterfeit goods, goods infringing upon intellectual property, and goods infringing upon labeling goods, trading goods of unknown origin, smuggled goods, without invoices and documents still take place.

In 2022, ministries, branches and functional forces detected, arrested and handled 139,758 violations (up 1.17% over the same period in 2021). In which, units and localities detected and arrested 3,692 cases of production, trading and transportation of fake goods, poor quality goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights (up 56.51% over the same period in 2021).

In the first 6 months of 2023, functional forces arrested and handled 66,049 violations (up 22.1% over the same period in 2022). In which, detected and arrested 2,219 cases of buying, selling and transporting banned and smuggled goods (down 9.72% over the same period); 61,057 cases of commercial fraud, tax fraud (up 20.55% over the same period); 2,773 cases of counterfeit goods, intellectual property violations (up 174.01% over the same period); collection and payment to the state budget is more than VND 6,560,609 billion (up 76.23% over the same period); criminal prosecution of 1,166 cases/1,610 subjects.

The functional forces have actively and proactively carried out professional measures to detect, prevent, arrest and strictly handle violations of the law related to smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods, illegally transporting goods across the border in accordance with the competence of each unit and functional force, contributing to stabilizing the market, protecting the rights and interests of people and businesses, ensuring security and order and serving the socio-economic development of the country.

The coordination and exchange of information on smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods among functional forces, the Steering Committee 389 of ministries, branches and localities have been highly promoted; many major violations have been discovered, arrested and handled strictly in accordance with law; smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting hotspots decreased; information and propaganda against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods on the mass media are effective and wide.

However, this result does not fully reflect the actual situation; the situation of trading fake goods, imitation goods, infringing intellectual property ... on e-commerce platforms is still potentially complicated.

Prevent fake goods from "entering" the e-commerce platforms

Fake goods detected by Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department. Photo: T.H

Criminals, violating the law on smuggling, taking advantage of e-commerce activities, using high technology to operate in cyberspace through websites and applications on mobile devices with high anonymity, using virtual account, junk sim, server system located abroad; through courier companies, postal services to transport contraband and banned goods in the form of gifts... cause many difficulties for functional forces in fighting and handling.

In addition, the e-commerce platform is not strict at the stage of goods control and verification, so it has created a loophole for fake and imitation goods to "enter" the trading floor.

The current policy and legal corridor are still sketchy, not strict, not adjusted and completed in time compared to actual requirements, so their effectiveness has not met the requirements in e-commerce management.

According to the National Steering Committee 389, it is forecasted that in the coming time, the application of science, information technology and e-commerce in business is an inevitable trend and increasingly rich and diverse. Objects will take advantage of platforms and applications to practice smuggling and commercial fraud with new, more sophisticated and complex methods and tricks.

From the above fact, to effectively implement e-commerce, it is necessary to have synchronous solutions from authorities and businesses. For the authorities, effectively implement the Prime Minister's Decision No. 319/QD-TTg dated March 23, 2023 on approving the Anti-counterfeiting and consumer protection scheme in e-commerce until 2025;

Continue to implement Plan No. 399/KH-BCD389 dated October 10, 2020 of the National Steering Committee 389 on strengthening the fight against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting in e-commerce activities.

Strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, synthesize professional measures in inspecting and supervising organizations and individuals participating in e-commerce activities; detect and strictly handle those who take advantage of e-commerce activities to smuggle, commit commercial fraud and counterfeit goods.

Complete mechanisms, policies and laws of the state, organize propaganda, dissemination and education of the law, raising the sense of responsibility for law observance, participating in the fight against commercial fraud in e-commerce activities.

For people and businesses, coordinate with authorities to share information about illegal acts in e-commerce.

In particular, for domestic manufacturing enterprises, they must protect their trademarks by registering for protection of trademarks and intellectual property for their products, using anti-counterfeiting technology, and traceability of goods on packaging to help consumers easily verify genuine products. At the same time, offer solutions on price and quality to compete.