The Government aims to resolutely prevent, combat, contain, and gradually eliminate smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property infringements.
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.
While praising the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities in tackling smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeiting, and intellectual property violations, PM Chinh acknowledged that in some places and at certain times, there has been lax enforcement and unclear jurisdiction, leading to increasingly complex developments in these issues.
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.
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.
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.
At a working session with ministries, central agencies, and relevant units on May 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed a special task force be formed and a month-long nationwide crackdown launched to fight smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeits, low-quality goods, those with unverified origin, and intellectual property-infringing products.
The Ministry of Public Security will coordinate with other ministries and localities to launch the crackdown, which will run nationwide from May 15 to June 15.
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.
To meet the 2025 revenue target of 411 trillion VND, a 9.6% rise from 2024, the department has instructed regional customs offices to implement measures to boost revenue tailored to local conditions while preventing budget losses.
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.
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.
