Officials 'give green light' to businesses trading in counterfeit goods, Prime Minister gives urgent instructions - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

The above direction was given by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Official Dispatch No. 72 requesting ministries, branches and localities to continue to step up the fight to prevent and repel smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and infringement of intellectual property rights.

The telegram stated that the peak period of the fight to prevent and repel smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property rights infringement has initially detected, fought, prevented, and handled many cases and violators in the production and trade of fake milk, medicine, and food...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. (Photo: Pham Thang)

However, the Prime Minister assessed that the situation of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property rights infringement is still very complicated.

To continue to step up the fight, prevent, repel and eventually end smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property infringement; to protect the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses, the Prime Minister requested Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies, and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to continue to promote a vibrant, determined, drastic and more aggressive attack.

" Timely detect and strictly handle violators. At the same time, strictly handle cadres, civil servants, and officers who show signs of moral degradation, corruption, negativity, protection, and assistance to law violators ," the dispatch clearly stated.

The Prime Minister requested that the Secretaries of Provincial and Municipal Party Committees directly under the Central Government continue to lead and direct Party committees at all levels and the entire political system in localities to participate in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

The Prime Minister assigned the Minister of Health to urgently submit to the Government amendments and supplements to Decree No. 15/2018 of the Government detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Food Safety, to be completed in May.

The Minister of Health shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to report to the Government to propose competent authorities to immediately handle some limitations and shortcomings of the Food Safety Law according to the recommendations of ministries and branches, especially the recommendations of the Ministry of Public Security. This work must be completed before June 5, ensuring submission to the National Assembly in June.

Recently, many state officials have been caught up in the law when they assisted units in producing counterfeit and fake goods. On May 13, the Investigation Police Agency (C03) of the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted and detained Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, former Director of the Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health) and 4 accomplices for accepting bribes in the case of producing and trading counterfeit goods including food, foodstuffs, food additives and violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences, occurring at MediPhar Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company and related units and organizations.

The former Director of the Food Safety Department often turned a blind eye and assisted in the assessment, post-inspection, and certification of MediPhar Factory and Mediusa Factory to produce many counterfeit products.

Speaking on the sidelines of the National Assembly, delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap delegation) said that the actions of the above-mentioned group of former officials not only aided in the wrongdoings of businesses, but were no different from "indirectly poisoning the people".

Investigative agencies need to clarify whether competent individuals and organizations have fulfilled their responsibilities. "Do not let the situation happen where only a few establishments are strict, but many places are still at large outside the law." Mr. Hoa said.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/can-bo-bat-den-xanh-cho-doanh-nghiep-buon-hang-gia-thu-tuong-chi-dao-khan-5048022.html