Strengthen anti-smuggling of fake medicine and cosmetics

	Over 11.7 million foreign cigarettes suspected of infringing intellectual property rights
	Proactively control counterfeit goods and infringing intellectual property rights

The Market Surveillance seized cosmetics in March.

Accordingly, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the National Steering Committee 389, requested ministries, agencies and localities to implement Directive No. 17 effectively; asked the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information and Communications to review and handle problems in the implementation of the Directive at the recommendation of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389.

The Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to urgently perform tasks assigned in the Prime Minister's Decision No. 319/QD-TTg dated March 29, 2023, approving the Scheme on Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Protection in e-commerce by 2025", coordinate with ministries and agencies to review and complete the legal document system to control the e-commerce trade, especially for products affecting consumers' health.

The National Steering Committee 389 was required to monitor, inspect and urge the implementation and report results under the tasks assigned in Directive 17.

The Deputy Minister directed ministries, agencies and members of the National Steering Committee 389 and the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities to implement Directive 17 effectively.

The Deputy Minister directed ministries, agencies, localities and competent forces to assess the results of the implementation of the Directive, forecast the situation and provide key solutions soon, handle difficulties and strengthen inter-sectoral coordination, inspect and handle violations related to items regulated in Directive 17; focus on inspecting public service performance and prevent the support for all smuggling, trade fraud and fake goods.

The Ministry of Health is assigned to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to remove problems; to review and advise on amendments, supplements, promulgation and improve legal policies, ensuring the synchronization, closeness, comprehensiveness and convenience for the state management of the product groups of products for human health.

Improve the operational efficiency of the state testing system and quality inspection facilities, especially the product group regulated in Directive 17; effectively use resources both in terms of technical staff, equipment and funding sources; proactively promote the inspection and supervision of the quality of medicine, cosmetics, supplemental foods, herbal medicine and traditional medicine, and promptly detect and handle all violations.

Coordinate with sectors, enforcement forces, especially industry associations, and businesses to hold conferences and seminars and promptly provide recommendations and signs to identify medicine, cosmetics, supplemental foods, herbal medicine and traditional medicine.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was asked to direct the radio and the press to collaborate with enforcement authorities to promote the dissemination of policies and laws related to products covered by the Directive; to request competent agencies to closely supervise and control advertising activities of advertising issuers, especially for supplemental foods, cosmetics, herbal medicine and traditional medicine; control telephone switchboards that were set up to pretend to be doctors and pharmacists to advise and sell fake and poor-quality products online. Evaluate and analyze the situation, make reasonable forecasts, and propose solutions to handle violations of websites and Facebook.