Fake and low quality goods and goods without clear origin are increasingly sold on e-commerce platforms and social networking sites.

Market surveillance authorities inspect eight stores and warehouses
for fake goods in Hanoi and Hung Yen in June 2021.

Sticking label on counterfeit goods with well-known trademarks

Smuggled goods, fake goods, low quality goods, goods without clear origin and goods infringing upon intellectual property rights are illegally transported and stored in warehouses for trading via e-commerce platforms.

These goods are often sold via e-commerce platforms or applications such as websites, Zalo, Viber, Facebook and YouTube with inaccurate information, causing the complicated development of this issue, according to the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance.

Infringing products mainly are products of famous brands like fake glasses, bags, clothes, shoes of Boss, Lascote, Gucci, Porsche Design, Nike and Adidas, watches of Rolex, Omega, Longines, motorcycle parts, food, fake cosmetics of Maybellin, Loreal, fake 555, Craven cigarettes brand, and fake fertilisers and pesticides.

To outsmart authorities and trick consumers, sellers often display fake products with authentic products..

In areas adjacent to urban areas, smugglers have hired large warehouses to store huge volumes of products and transported the products via goods delivery services.

The business of smuggled goods is still complex, especially in big cities such as Hanoi, HCM City, and some neighbouring provinces.

In the first half of 2021, market surveillance forces handled 1,190 violation cases in Hanoi, 387 cases in HCM City, 89 cases in Thai Nguyen, and 80 cases in Bac Ninh.

Notably, Market Surveillance authorities inspected eight warehouses and stores of goods without clear origin in Ha Noi and Hung Yen.

The authorities seized tonnnes of goods including 123,425 products which mainly are cosmetics, functional foods, clothes, household goods and alcohol.

Detecting violations

To protect businesses and consumers, the market surveillance forces across the country continues to fight smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance said.

The Market Surveillance authorities will work with local governments and agencies such as Customs, Tax and Border Guards to fight the trafficking and transporting of banned goods, fake goods, and low quality goods. It will also exchange information with enterprises and associations, and speed up information technology application and international cooperation in combat smuggling and trade fraud.

In January-June, market surveillance forces inspected 41,702 violations, handled 25,619 violations, and collected VND192 billion, up by 11% year-on-year.

The forces confiscated goods worth more than VND141 billion; imposed fines valued at some VND1.1 billion for administrative violation, and destroyed goods worth over VND102 billion.