At the working session between the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance and the US Embassy over counterfeit Sunview-branded raisins in Hanoi on February 7. (Photo: dms.gov.vn)

Director General of the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance (DMS) at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Tran Huu Linh held a working session with representatives from the US Embassy in Hanoi on February 7 to address violations involving the US’ Sunview-branded raisins in the Vietnamese market.

Linh said DMS has been working closely with various agencies, organisations, and foreign brands, including US companies, to inspect and rectify violations concerning US products in Vietnam.

Statistics showed that since 2024, there have been 27 documented cases involving Sunview raisins, resulting in fines of over 536 million VND (21,440 USD), primarily due to the sale of smuggled goods and products of unclear origin.

Ralph Bean, Agricultural Counselor at the US Embassy in Vietnam, expressed gratitude to the DMS for its prompt response following the embassy’s request for a working session. He hoped that the session would pave the way for a closer communication channel between the two sides, not just for Sunview but also other US brands in Vietnam.

He voiced concerns about the growing risk of counterfeit goods, potentially made from substandard materials or sourced from countries with lower tariffs, which could undermine consumer safety and domestic production in exporting nations like the US.

To combat this, he highlighted the embassy’s extensive network of US suppliers and businesses, which can provide valuable intelligence to Vietnamese authorities to identify and address potentially counterfeit goods.

In response, Linh suggested appointing embassy representatives to work closely with Vietnamese market regulators to facilitate timely information exchange.

Expressing the DMS’s commitment to keeping consumers informed, he said after inspections and enforcement actions, it issues consumer alerts to help the public steer clear of counterfeit goods.

As the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and DMS are intensifying efforts against trade fraud, counterfeit products, and intellectual property violations, particularly in the rapidly evolving digital space, he stressed the importance of sharing information on product violations with authorities. By working together, authorities and stakeholders can expedite inspections and enforce regulations more effectively, he said./.