Ho Chi Minh City: Blocking smuggled and counterfeit goods at the end of the year

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The imported shipment violated intellectual property rights which was discovered by Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department in coordination with Long An Customs Department. Photo: T.H

Seized a large amount of counterfeit goods from famous brands

Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department has directed working teams to strengthen control and extraordinary inspections of business locations to promptly detect violations. The seizure of nearly 5,500 suspected counterfeit products of famous brands at 2 stores in Ho Chi Minh City when Market Surveillance Team No. 2 simultaneously unexpectedly inspected these 2 stores over the weekend is a typical example.

After a period of monitoring, on November 11, 2023, Market Surveillance Team No. 2 unexpectedly inspected the store on Le Trong Tan Street, Tay Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City and discovered, temporarily detained 2,742 product units which are food and cosmetics of all kinds produced abroad; unknown origin; no invoices or documents. There were signs of counterfeit brands: Sensodyne, Clear, Dove, Sunsilk, Tresemme', etc. At the same time, another working group also inspected a business location and storage of goods on Street No. 2, Binh Hung Hoa B Ward, Binh Tan district, discovered and temporarily seized 2,793 units of pre-packaged food products and cosmetics of all kinds produced abroad; unknown origin; no invoices or documents. There are signs of counterfeit brands: Gucci, YSL, etc.

As for counterfeit goods, in the third quarter of 2023, Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Departments inspected and handled 426 cases of violations of trading in counterfeit trademark goods; trading in goods that infringe on trademark rights, etc, temporarily confiscated 49,444 units of powdered milk products, clothes, shoes, cosmetics, handbags, wallets, electronic goods, mobile phone accessories, motorcycle parts, watches, etc with brands Honda, Adidas, Nike, Chanel, Valentino, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Apple, Levi's, etc. The total value of infringing goods is estimated at more than 4.2 billion VND.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department Nguyen Tien Dat said that producing and trading counterfeit goods is a violation of the law, violating the legitimate rights and interests of businesses and people. To prevent this violation, inspections by the Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Force take place regularly and continuously, not in campaigns or phases, but identifying counterfeit goods still faces many obstacles. For this work to be effective, coordination between ministries and branches is required, as well as the support of technology, etc.

Prevent counterfeit goods from the border gate to the market

With the role of gatekeeper at border gates in recent times, implementing anti-smuggling work, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has always focused on anti-counterfeiting and protecting intellectual property rights. According to Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Nguyen Van On, in many contents of fighting against smuggling, Customs always focuses on performing the task of protecting consumer rights. Because, for the group of counterfeit goods, in addition to domestic production, there are also foreign production sources brought to Vietnam for consumption.

Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has directed the Customs force of Tan Son Nhat International Airport and border gates to focus on controlling food groups and medical goods related to human health; functional food group does not meet quality standards. From the beginning of the year until now, Ho Chi Minh City Customs has arrested 20 cases related to groups of counterfeit brands, imported cosmetics and food products that do not ensure quality and standards according to regulations.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Nguyen Van On commented that in the near future, at the end of the year and Lunar New Year 2024, the sale of fraudulent goods via air and express postal delivery will become complicated, and the Customs agency will proactively implement prevention solutions and continue to coordinate with functional forces to effectively control the area; prevent violations.

For the domestic market, according to the leadership of the Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department, in the last months of the year, the source of goods moving into the market from the southwest border direction is gathered at warehouses and transshipment points, stored and displayed for sale and business on tourist streets, prominent and key areas and commercial centers will operate more vibrantly and strongly. Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department continues to direct Market Surveillance teams to focus on further promoting the implementation of professional monitoring, examination, and verification measures to control, promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle violations. Focus on inspection and supervision in key and prominent areas, inter-provincial roads, national highways and at warehouses and goods storage points to promptly prevent violations.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van On, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department and Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department have signed a coordination regulation in the fight against smuggling, fraud, and counterfeit goods. In each specific case, the two forces will share information to work together to effectively prevent smuggled and counterfeit goods from the border gate to the market.

According to Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, in the first 10 months of 2023, the entire Department presided over and coordinated to detection and arrest of 2,239 violations, with an estimated value of infringing goods of VND 3,085.81 billion; The total amount of fines were collected and paid to the budget reached 32.8 billion VND.