Conference reviews fight against smuggling, counterfeits
Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee 389 Dam Thanh The named authorities’ asynchronous coordination and loopholes in mechanisms and policies as shortcomings in the fight against smuggling and counterfeits during a July 11 conference in Hanoi to review the effort.
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The National Steering Committee 389 deals with prevention and control of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.
In the first half, the committee’s units inspected 19,057 cases, dealt with 12,162 cases, and launched criminal proceedings against 42 cases with 48 defendants, collecting VND1,569.577 billion (US$68.24 million) for the State budget, up VND172.53 billion (US$7.5 million) annually.
Chu Xuan Kien, Deputy Director of the Hanoi municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said the trade and transport of illicit and smuggled goods remain complicated, adding that smugglers often store goods in the northern provinces of Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and the suburbs of Hanoi, then put them in small packets for easier transport.
Due to lax export-import procedures, frauds in customs filling have also occurred.
Counterfeits and others violating intellectual property rights are not only manufactured at home but also abroad, then shipped to the domestic market for consumption, particularly consumer goods, electronics, apparel, footwear, handbags, cosmetics, food and sport devices.
Some merchants have even purchased expired or near-expiry goods to correct their expiry date and sell in remote and suburban areas, mostly confectionary, vegetables and fruits, and livestock products.
Between now and the year’s end, particularly before and during the New Year festival when purchasing power soars, the steering committee’s units were asked to strengthen inspection on trade, transport and slaughter of poultry, as well as trade in alcohol, cigarettes and street food.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Le Hong Son asked for intensifying synchronous collaboration in the effort and increasing communications campaigns to raise public awareness in the regard.
