Protecting Ha Tinh specialty brands from the risk of being counterfeited

(Baohatinh.vn) - Ha Tinh has many famous agricultural products and specialties, but they also face the risk of counterfeiting. In that context, brand protection is necessary to maintain the reputation and value of local products.

In Phu Tho, when the authorities dismantled a fake buffalo meat production line at MQ FOOD Company Limited, many people were surprised by the scale and sophistication. Thousands of tons of cheap imported frozen buffalo meat were marinated, dried, packaged, labeled as " Ha Giang specialty" and then sold at many times higher prices. An entire village participated, forming a closed chain from processing to consumption. Just one incident but it seriously damaged the reputation of the local buffalo meat specialty - a product closely associated with the cultural life and livelihood of the people of Ha Giang (now in Tuyen Quang province).

Dried buffalo meat products that do not meet food safety and hygiene standards of MQ FOOD Company Limited are about to be smuggled into the market. Photo: Provided by the police

Currently, Ha Tinh is also a locality that owns many specialties that have affirmed their reputation and commercial value such as Phuc Trach grapefruit, Huong Son deer antlers, Khe May oranges, Vu Quang oranges, Thuong Loc oranges, rice paper, etc., so it is easier for dishonest businesses to take advantage of and attach fake labels. Preserving and promoting the brand requires synchronous protection solutions to effectively prevent the risk of counterfeiting of origin.

Cuong Nga honey (Son Giang commune) is trusted by customers inside and outside the province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong - Director of Cuong Nga Honey Cooperative (Son Giang commune) shared: "Thanks to focusing on improving quality and increasing brand recognition, Huong Son honey has been trusted by customers inside and outside the province for many years. However, sometimes we still hear somewhere that there are poor quality products imported from other places but they are told to consumers that it is Huong Son honey. If consumers are suspicious, no matter how genuine or standard we make it, it will be affected."

Not only production facilities and businesses, many farmers who directly produce the products also have to bear this risk. Mr. Phan Xuan Hien - Head of the Phuc Trach Grapefruit Cooperative (Ngoc Boi village, Phuc Trach commune) said: "Phuc Trach grapefruit is a product that has been famous for many years in the market, so the situation of counterfeiting this specialty fruit still appears. To protect the brand, we have synchronized the origin traceability stamp, helping consumers identify the correct product".

Phuc Trach grapefruit is a famous specialty product of Ha Tinh on the market.

In recent times, through management and monitoring, the Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh has also recorded cases of the province’s specialty products being exploited for their reputation, labeled as originating from Ha Tinh for consumption in other localities. Previously, cu do candy was impersonated; recently, rice paper has also fallen into a similar situation.

“A collaborator importing rice paper from Ha Tinh to the northern provinces for consumption accidentally discovered another facility also purchasing rice paper, packaging it, using the Ha Tinh rice paper brand, printing Chinese labels and packaging to export to the neighboring country. This is very worrying because Ha Tinh rice paper is in the process of registering for trademark protection,” said Mr. Tran Manh Hung, Head of the Department of Technology and Innovation (Ha Tinh Department of Science and Technology).

A rice paper product of unknown origin with packaging bearing the brand name Ha Tinh rice paper was illegally exported to China.

In each case, the Department has proactively coordinated with the authorities to implement preventive measures. Specifically, for cu do candy, the Department has sent a document requesting the market management force and the People's Committees of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces to coordinate in handling. At the same time, the Department also coordinated with the People's Committee of Ha Tinh city (old) to advise the Provincial People's Committee to develop a dossier to protect the certification mark "Ha Tinh rice paper"; to date, the dossier has been submitted to the Department of Intellectual Property.

In fact, in some online sales channels, temporary markets, tourist stops, etc., products labeled “Ha Tinh specialties” still appear without clear labels or traceability stamps. This ambiguity makes it difficult for consumers to distinguish between real and fake products, and in the long run, creates conditions for poor quality products to be mixed in, causing a loss of confidence in local brands. This not only causes direct economic damage but also affects the long-term value of local specialty products.

Ha Tinh is building a trademark protection dossier for rice paper products.

To protect the Ha Tinh agricultural product brand, currently, the establishments have proactively standardized the production process and synchronized traceability stamps. Mr. Nguyen Van Phong - owner of Phong Nga cu do candy production facility (Ha Huy Tap ward) said: "Up to now, Phong Nga cu do candy has been present at agents in over 40 provinces and cities nationwide and on the shelves of large supermarkets such as Co.opmart, Vinmart... We regularly pay attention to design, packaging, QR code,... to increase recognition, avoid product counterfeiting".

On the part of the state management agency, the Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh is synchronously implementing many solutions to protect and promote the value of local specialties. The protection and development of intellectual property rights are prioritized in conjunction with the registration and granting of protection certificates for many key products such as: geographical indications "Phuc Trach grapefruit", "Huong Son deer velvet"; certified trademarks "Khe May orange", "Ky Ninh fish sauce", "Ha Tinh cu do candy";...

Along with that, the department coordinated with the market management force and the provincial police to strengthen the inspection of labels, packaging, and origin, especially at transit and large consumption points. Propaganda and awareness raising activities were promoted through training courses for cooperatives and production households on how to use stamps and labels according to standards; establishing a cooperation mechanism and exchanging information with a number of other localities to promptly detect and handle counterfeiting.

Ha Tinh Department of Science and Technology will promote the application of modern traceability technology, combining electronic stamps, QR codes and supply chain digitalization solutions to ensure product transparency.

Mr. Tran Manh Hung - Head of the Department of Technology and Innovation (Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh) said: "In the coming time, the department aims to build a comprehensive system of brand protection and geographical indications for Ha Tinh specialties, from production to consumption. The focus is on supporting the creation, management and development of brands, aiming at protection not only domestically but also in potential export markets.

We will promote the application of modern traceability technology, combining electronic stamps, QR codes and supply chain digitalization solutions to ensure transparency and effectively combat counterfeiting. At the same time, we will strengthen inspection and inter-sectoral coordination, while linking trade promotion activities with the task of protecting brands, raising awareness among people, cooperatives and businesses about effectively exploiting intellectual property rights, thereby increasing the value and competitiveness of Ha Tinh agricultural products."

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/bao-ve-thuong-hieu-dac-san-ha-tinh-truoc-nguy-co-bi-mao-danh-post293798.html