Ministry of Health "launches" inspection of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, functional foods, and medical equipment

The Ministry of Health has just issued Decision No. 1703/QD-BYT promulgating the "Plan to implement the peak month to fight against and repel smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights" from May 15 to June 15.

Inspect, detect and handle violations of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the medical field.

According to the Ministry of Health, the Plan to implement the peak month of combating and preventing smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights was issued with the aim of implementing the instructions in the following documents: Official Dispatch No. 41/CD-TTg dated April 17, 2025 on handling cases of production and trade of counterfeit medicines and health protection foods;

Official Dispatch No. 55/CD-TTg dated May 2, 2025 on strengthening coordination and strictly handling organizations and individuals involved in the production and trade of fake medicines, fake milk and fake health protection foods;

Telegram No. 65/CD-TTg dated May 15, 2025 on launching a peak period to fight against and repel smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights;

Directive No. 13/CT-TTg dated May 17, 2025 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the new situation.

Deploying a peak month in the entire health sector to inspect and control the implementation of legal regulations related to trading, production and business activities of pharmaceutical, functional food, cosmetic and medical equipment enterprises in order to combat, prevent, repel and eventually end smuggling, trade fraud, production and circulation of counterfeit goods (for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, functional food, traditional medicine and medical equipment); protect the rights and legitimate interests of people and enterprises.

At the same time, promptly detect and strictly handle acts of manufacturing and trading in fake, smuggled, and unknown origin pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, functional foods, traditional medicines, and medical equipment.

In the plan, the Ministry of Health requires synchronous and drastic implementation of inspection, detection and handling of violations of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the health sector; Strengthening management efficiency, creating breakthrough changes in the work of preventing and combating smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods for drugs, cosmetics, functional foods and medical equipment;

Close coordination between functional agencies and management levels from central to local levels in the fight against counterfeit drugs, cosmetics, functional foods, and medical equipment.

Ensure the regularity, continuity and non-stopness of the work against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the health sector.

Establish 15 inspection teams related to the fields of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, traditional medicine, milk, functional foods, and medical equipment.

Also in the plan, the Ministry of Health has established inspection teams at units under the Ministry of Health and the Departments of Health of provinces and cities, specifically:

The Drug Administration established 5 inspection teams to inspect the implementation of legal regulations on pharmaceuticals and cosmetics at establishments producing, exporting, importing, and wholesaling drugs, pharmaceutical ingredients, and cosmetics;

The Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy established two inspection teams to inspect the implementation of legal regulations on traditional medicines, medicinal herbs, and traditional medicinal ingredients at production, export, import, wholesale, retail establishments, and clinics using traditional medicine;

The Food Safety Department established 5 inspection teams to inspect the implementation of food safety regulations at establishments producing, exporting, importing, and trading food ingredients, milk, and functional foods;

The Department of Infrastructure and Medical Equipment established three inspection teams to inspect the implementation of legal regulations on medical equipment at establishments manufacturing, exporting, importing, and trading medical equipment.

The personnel participating in the inspection teams of each department are civil servants working at the department and civil servants from other units who are requisitioned.

The Ministry of Health requests the Department of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities to advise the Provincial People's Committee to establish inspection teams for the production, trade, and business of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, functional foods, traditional medicines, and medical equipment within the scope of their management.

The subjects of inspection are manufacturing, exporting, importing enterprises, and business households directly trading in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, functional foods, traditional medicines, and medical equipment.

The inspection content focuses on production, business, preservation and storage activities: Implementation of laws and regulations on pharmaceuticals and cosmetics at establishments producing, exporting, importing and wholesaling drugs, pharmaceutical ingredients and cosmetics;

Implementation of laws and regulations on traditional medicines, medicinal herbs, and traditional medicinal ingredients at production, export, import, wholesale, retail, and traditional medicine clinics;

Implementation of laws and regulations on food safety at production, export, import establishments, and business households directly trading in food ingredients, milk, and functional foods;

Implementation of laws and regulations on medical equipment at establishments manufacturing, exporting, importing and trading medical equipment.

Advertising activities of traditional medicine and functional foods, including checking the participation of scientists and managers of the health sector in advertising activities. Through inspection, correction and handling of false advertising activities and excessive advertising.

Sign a commitment not to exaggerate product features and uses

The Ministry of Health requires scientists and health sector managers to sign a commitment not to advertise or introduce false information, information lacking scientific basis or basis, or to exaggerate the features and uses of products without carefully verifying legal documents related to the products; to be responsible before the law if there is any fraudulent advertising.

Strengthen information and communication work: Promote information and communication activities about the risks and harms of using fake drugs and fake health protection foods of unknown origin.

Launch a movement for people to participate in responding to drug and food quality control: Propaganda and explanation of the dangers of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, counterfeit goods, goods that infringe intellectual property rights, and copyright infringement.

Launch a nationwide movement to denounce counterfeit goods through the press and social networks. Summarize and evaluate the peak period of implementation to combat, prevent, repel, and eventually end smuggling, trade fraud, production, and circulation of counterfeit goods.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bo-y-te-ra-quan-kiem-tra-ve-duoc-my-pham-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-thiet-bi-y-te-post881483.html