The market surveillance agency inspects and handles the warehouse of infringing goods in Kim Chung commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi. (Source of Directorate of Market Surveillance)

Difficulty in control

Currently, the demand for freight is very active due to the increase in online shopping, helping the postal market to develop strongly, especially postal associated with e-commerce. However, it is also a risk for subjects to take advantage of transporting banned and contraband goods.

According to a report of the GDirectorate of Market Surveillance, in recent years, the unit has directly detected, inspected, and handled dozens of violations in the circulation of goods. Infringing goods are also quite diverse such as household electronics, fashion goods (women's coats, bags, clothes ...), and cosmetics of all kinds... Besides, the market surveillance agencies in many provinces and cities have coordinated with other authorities to dismantle many warehouses containing contraband, counterfeit goods, goods of unknown origin, infringing on intellectual property rights, etc. In which, the subjects sell goods through online sales and delivery by post.

Through the struggle, the market surveillance agency also found that, when the subjects committed violations, the addresses of the consignor and the consignee all are fake, even without a consignee. Meanwhile, postal service units always aim to simplify procedures, low cost and fast delivery time, so many traders have taken advantage of it to sell contraband goods. In addition, with the type of COD delivery service which is widely used by e-commerce businesses and online sales establishments, the people who receive money are mainly shippers, making it difficult for the state agencies.

Over the past time, the National Steering Committee 389 has directed functional forces to strengthen coordination in effectively combating smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting, with emphasis on the mode of transmission of goods and services by postal services to transport smuggled goods, so as not to create hot spots and complications about smuggling in this activity.

In which, the Customs force focuses on inspecting, supervising and strictly controlling goods transported through express delivery services within customs control areas; promptly detects, prevents and strictly handles violations. The police force and market management force strengthen inspection and control of key routes, postal service points, and business establishments that use sales invoices, and value-added invoices, and timely detect and strictly handle violators.

Postal enterprises work together

Recognizing the current situation, in order to prevent the use of postal services to transport fake goods. At the end of July 2023, the Directorate of Market Surveillance and Viettel Post Corporation (Viettel Post) signed a cooperation agreement on the inspection and handling of infringing goods sent by post. According to the agreement, the coordination between the two parties is on the principle of complying with the guidelines of the Party, the State's laws and policies, and matching with the functions, tasks and powers of each party, and ensuring the responsibilities and interests of the parties on the basis of the goal of fighting against smuggled goods, counterfeit goods, banned goods, goods of unknown origin, goods infringing upon intellectual property rights transported by post, goods infringing on quality, measurement, price, and food safety, violating the law on consumer protection and other commercial frauds in postal activities.

Director General of the Directorate of Market Surveillance Tran Huu Linh said that this is the right time for the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two units in the inspection and handling of infringing goods sent by post. The Prime Minister has signed and promulgated the Project on Combating commercial fraud in the e-commerce environment up to 2025. In which, the Market Surveillance force has identified the commercial fraud prevention front in the coming time as e-commerce, exchanges, and social networking platforms... However, this is a new front, the State authorities face difficulties because there are intermediaries such as payment services, infrastructure floors, delivery, postage…

"The coordination of Viettel Post helps the finance and police agencies perform tasks more effectively, contributing to the development of commerce in general and e-commerce in particular, and protecting the interests of consumers. ", Mr. Tran Huu Linh shared.

Previously, the Directorate of Market Surveillance and the Vietnam Post Corporation signed a Regulation on coordination on inspection and handling of goods sent by domestic post.

Accordingly, the two units jointly develop periodic and irregular inspection plans to handle postal items and parcels that are infringing goods; provide information on business activities, freight, and update violations. In addition, in order to strengthen the control of goods sent by post, especially counterfeit and banned goods, some provinces and cities have issued regulations on coordination between departments, agencies, local authorities and enterprises.