Amid the increasingly sophisticated trade in counterfeit goods and commercial fraud, the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development has identified shifting from traditional management to a data- and technology-driven approach as a long-term solution.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 23 chaired a national teleconference to review the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property rights infringement in the first half of 2025 and conclude the peak combat campaign.
He requested delegates to provide objective and honest feedback on what has been achieved, what has not, the consequences, and draw lessons learned for the future. He also emphasised the need to identify key directions and tasks, with a firm resolve to prevent, and eventually eliminate the trafficking of counterfeit medicines and fake food products.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged that despite concerted efforts by ministries and local authorities in combating fake and substandard goods, the situation remains highly complicated, attributing the persistent challenges to high profits luring numerous participants, increasingly sophisticated violations, limited resources within enforcement agencies.
It is necessary to promptly detect and handle violators; and at the same time, strictly discipline officials, public servants, and officers who show signs of moral degradation, corruption, or collusion with lawbreakers, in line with the principles of “handling one case to warn an entire region or sector” and “no forbidden zones, no exceptions,” the official dispatch stresses.
Although the Prime Minister initially set a one-month campaign, the Ministry of Public Security proactively extended it to three months, starting from May 15, said spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security Maj. Gen. Nguyen Quoc Toan at the Government’s regular monthly press conference on June 4.
Dr. To Hoai Nam, Permanent Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, noted that counterfeit and imitation goods, as well as intellectual property infringements, have grown increasingly complex and sophisticated. Thousands of cases have been uncovered, with many well-known Vietnamese brands blatantly copied in both traditional markets and on e-commerce platforms.
Combatting the production and sale of counterfeit food and medicine has long been closely monitored by the Government, the health ministry and relevant agencies.
The Government leader highlighted in the document that despite initial progress in efforts against the illegal practices, with the detection and disruption of multiple operations involving counterfeit milk, pharmaceuticals, and food items, the situation remains extremely complicated.
According to investigators, the couple had been producing and selling fake goods since 2020, with products reaching drugstores and hospitals nationwide.
Counterfeit products are being sold widely on social media, with reports of price manipulation, hoarding, and illegal mark-ups, PM Chinh noted, emphasising that these activities negatively impact public health, people's trust, security and order, and lead to significant revenue losses, further disrupting many aspects of social life.
The minister said that the report has prompted the Ministry of MSMEs to move toward the formation of a task force for the protection and empowerment of MSMEs in Indonesia, adding that the planned task force would be empowered to take action against those involved in the distribution and sale of counterfeit goods.
Thailand has recorded a decrease of 20% in low-quality imports, mainly from China, since imposing restrictions on cheap imports that are hurting business in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, government spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan said on December 9.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on August 8 urged ministries, sectors, and localities to enhance the use of digital technology to promptly detect and address smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the context of the rapid development of e-commerce.
Protecting the brand not only helps businesses prevent counterfeit goods but also increases the brand value in relationships with partners and customers, experts said.
Great efforts have been made to combat counterfeit goods and trade fraud products on e-commerce channels as online shopping has become increasingly popular for many people amid booming e-commerce activities.
