Fake products have become an increasing problem in the Vietnamese market, affecting customers’ health and causing losses for the national economy, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa.
Thoa made the comment at a conference to mark “Vietnam Anti-counterfeit Goods Day”, on November 29 in HCM City.
November 29 selected as Vietnam Anti-counterfeit Goods Day
At the event, the chairman of the Vietnam Association for Anti-counterfeiting and Trademark Protection (VATAP) Le The Bao, said, “Violations of intellectual property and industrial design regulations have become more sophisticated. Fake goods are both manufactured domestically and smuggled into the country, including those that affect public health such as contraceptives. Many manufacturers have complained that they have seen false versions of their products within one month of launching their own."
Counterfeit products have been widely sold, both rural markets and urban supermarkets as well as trade centres in cities, said Tran Hung, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Market Management Department.
Speaking at the conference, a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development pointed out the example of illegally imported, substandard chicken, which poses a health risk to the public and possible infection of domestic poultry. He noted that every year around 70,000 – 100,000 tonnes of low-quality chicken are imported into Vietnam, much from China. These products often have an antibiotic content as much as 20% higher than the regulated levels.
According to VATAP Chairman, Le The Bao, fake fertilisers are also very common in the country’s key agricultural areas. Between 2007 and August this year, Vietnam saw poison cases suspected to be linked to these fertilisers, affecting 249 people and causing 66 deaths.
Concerted community effort needed
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Ho Thi Kim Thoa said that over the past few years, hundreds of counterfeit goods have been seized, with fines collected amounting to more than VND100 billion (USD4.76 million). Still, he says, the problem is far from being solved. "Even though we have five task forces on the lookout for fake and smuggled goods, the situation persists."
An official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said sanctions for these violation are not strict enough. “Each kilogramme of substandard chicken imported from China costs just VND15,000, but is sold at up to VND50,000-60,000 retail. These high profits lure traders to bring their low-quality products to Vietnam."
According to Tran Hung, Deputy Head of the Market Management Department, said that along with the more sophisticated ways of counterfeiters, many companies who have been forced to compete with fake versions of their own products are intimidated to go to the authorities. He added that regulations on the matter remain weak.
VATAP Chairman Le The Bao said that the State budget for fake product prevention and control activities is still modest.
Deputy Minister Kim Thoa called on the cooperation of customers, enterprises and the whole community in the fight against fake products.
