Counterfeit goods andgoods infringing intellectual property not only cause damage to consumers' interests but also harm the production capacity of enterprises, so there is a need for close coordination between businesses and authorities in tackling violation cases.

The process of manufacturing fake masks for export by  Nam Anh Company

Great efforts from competent forces

According to Director General of the General Department of Market Surveillance Tran Huu Linh, in the process of international integration, intellectual property infringement cases will increase because Vietnam is implementing its commitments on international integration. Therefore, the key task in the action plan for 2020-2025 of the General Department of Market Surveillance is to combat counterfeit goods. In tandem, the General Department will workwith units  in the border area to prevent the illegal transportation of smuggled goods to the domestic market.

“The rampant production of counterfeit goods and import of smuggled goods have reduced the production capacity of enterprises Linh said.

The market surveillance force will also strengthen supervision to prevent violations on the internet environment, because this is also a large area with a high risk of infringing intellectual property rights. For example, since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the force has inspected andreviewed a series of mask-producing and trading establishments, discovering hundreds of thousands of products, especially fake masks being traded in the market.

On July 30, the Operational Department of the General Department of Market Surveillance, Working Team 368 and HCM City Market Surveillance Department inspected an establishment of Nam Anh Equipment Trading and Production Co., Ltd. This company is located in Tran Dai Nghia Street, Binh Chanh district, HCM City. The working groups detected 120 packages of masks, containing more than 151,000 3M fake masks. This is the largest intellectual property infringement case ofmasks that has been protected in Vietnam from the beginning of the year to now. If these masks are not detected, they are expected to be sold nationwide.

According to Chief Representative, Director of Relations and Markets of 3M Co.,Ltd in Vietnam Nguyen Minh Duc, supports the market surveillance force has contributed to protecting not only the rights and interests of 3M company but also the health and safety of consumers to avoid using counterfeit products, harming people's health.

Coordinate to prevent counterfeit goods

However, besides close coordination of the majority of businesses, some businesses have not yet paid attention of their products. According to Linh, to prevent counterfeit goods, there is a need for close coordination amongbusinesses and consumers in providing information, operating areas as well as the signs of violations of suspects. In particular, close coordination between businesses and competent authorities is one of the prerequisites for successfully tackling violations.

Recently, at asigning ceremony of regulations on coordination in the prevention and combat against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods for motorcycle manufacturing and trading between the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389 and the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), VAMM’s ChairmanKeisuke Tsuruzono said the association always  accompanies the Vietnamese Government to clean up the market, contributing to affirming the commitment of the Vietnamese Government to signed trade agreements.

Tsuruzono believed that with the drastic direction of the National Steering Committee 389, Vietnam will prevent counterfeit products in the motorcycle industry.

Chief of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389 Dam Thanh The said the signing of regulations on coordination aims to enhance efficiency of prevention, detection and combat for smuggling, counterfeit goods, infringement of intellectual property, to create a healthy business environment, and protect interests of consumers. At the same time, strengthening coordination between the Standing Office and the VAMN in preventing, detecting, combating, and handling violations.