The peak of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Cong chaired the meeting of Working Group 1181.

High-profile campaign, strict handling of violations

Son La Provincial People's Committee has established Task Force 1181, which is responsible for combating and preventing smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and infringement of intellectual property rights. The peak period will be deployed throughout the province from the end of May to June 20, 2025. Four interdisciplinary inspection teams will be established to focus on inspecting essential goods, high-risk areas and e-commerce activities. Hotlines will be set up and made public to receive denunciations from the people, increasing the effectiveness of prevention.

Interdisciplinary inspection team No. 1 inspects counterfeit goods trading and commercial fraud activities in Moc Chau town.

Our reporters witnessed the inspection process of the Delegation at a number of production and business establishments. Right in the first days of the campaign, the Interdisciplinary Inspection Delegation No. 1, chaired by the Department of Industry and Trade, coordinated with departments, branches and the People's Committees of Moc Chau town, Van Ho district, and Yen Chau district.

Checking frozen food at the business store in sub-zone 10, Moc Chau town.

The working group inspected a frozen food store in Sub-area 10, Moc Chau town. At the time of the inspection, the authorities discovered that the staff of this facility were sorting and preparing to remove a large quantity of expired frozen food and fresh food. These items were mainly sausages, vegetable skewers and frozen seafood, including products that were more than a year past their expiration date, with torn and damaged packaging, leading to mold inside. Checking the display cabinets, the group also discovered expired chili sauce products and packages of processed chicken feet of unknown origin.

In response to these violations, the Delegation requested that businesses recall and destroy all expired food and products of unknown origin.

At the milk cake production and processing facility in Thao Nguyen residential group, Van Son ward, Moc Chau town. At the time of inspection, the facility was operating a milk candy production line to package goods for consumption. The interdisciplinary inspection team conducted a comprehensive inspection of the facility, including the production area and raw material warehouse. At the same time, the team also carefully examined documents including: invoices, documents on the origin of raw materials for business; business license; certificate of the facility meeting food safety and hygiene conditions; and certificate of workers completing food safety and hygiene training. Through the inspection, it was discovered that the facility was operating at many locations, but did not notify the district-level business registration agency and that the facility used expired food additives and food processing aids during the production process.

The inspection team reminded the facility to fix the remaining problems. At the same time, the team continued to review and monitor the facility's operating procedures to ensure compliance with legal regulations in the coming time.

Interdisciplinary inspection team No. 1 inspects food additives and food processing aids in the production and processing of milk cakes.

Ms. Do Thi Bich Chau, Deputy Head of the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team No. 1, said: The Team has inspected 9 establishments trading in pharmaceuticals, food, fertilizers, and pesticides. Through on-site inspections at the establishments, the Team has discovered many violations of the law. The main violations include: Trading in expired goods; trading in pesticides or fertilizers without a corresponding business eligibility certificate; trading in pesticides and fertilizers without a certificate of eligibility for trading in drugs and fertilizers; retailing drugs not within the scope of business stated in the certificate of eligibility for pharmaceutical business; trading in goods of unknown origin; displaying and selling counterfeit goods... The case files are being transferred to local Market Management Teams for handling according to regulations.

Currently, the interdisciplinary inspection teams and the provincial departments and branches are actively launching and resolutely implementing the peak plan to combat smuggling and trade fraud in each sector and field. According to the report of the Provincial Steering Committee 389, in the first week of launching, the Provincial Police and the Market Management Department inspected 13 cases, handled 6 violations, collected more than 11 million VND for the state budget, and over 12 million VND in violated goods.

Firm, but not annoying

According to records, during the peak period, in Son La city, Moc Chau town and many districts, many shops and businesses in traditional markets temporarily closed to avoid inspection by authorities regarding invoices, documents and origin of goods.

Sharing with us, Ms. Dinh Thi Hong, Group 9, Chieng Le Ward, Son La City, worried: I borrowed money to do business in used clothes. The characteristic of used clothes is that most of them do not have invoices or documents proving their origin. Therefore, I am very afraid that if I open my business at this time, the goods may be confiscated, putting me at risk of losing all the capital I have invested.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuong, an employee of the Central Market Management Team of Moc Son Ward, Moc Chau Town, shared: With the information about the upcoming interdisciplinary inspection team of the province, most of the traders have temporarily stopped doing business. Currently, the Market Management Board is propagating and mobilizing people to reopen their businesses, but the businesses still hope that the authorities will soon provide information and clearly disseminate new policies and regulations of the law, helping traders feel secure in stabilizing their business, while ensuring strict compliance with current legal regulations.

During the inspection, the working group combined propaganda and guided business households to complete legal documents.

In response to these concerns, the authorities affirmed that the highest goal of the inspection work is to ensure a healthy business environment, protect consumers and businesses, and legitimate production and business establishments. Instead of closing down and avoiding, businesses are encouraged to proactively review their operations and voluntarily comply with the law. Compliance not only helps avoid risks but also builds sustainable reputation.

The authorities will continue to conduct inspections according to plans and regulations, ensuring the strictness of the law. At the same time, they will increase dialogue and listen to opinions from business households to have appropriate instructions and solutions, helping people to both ensure compliance with the law and stabilize their businesses, contributing to the economic and social development of the province.

Inspection team at business establishments in To Mua commune, Van Ho district.

Directing the peak period, comrade Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee 389, requested the interdisciplinary inspection teams to tighten inspection of key and essential goods and fields. Focus on products such as: milk, medicine, functional foods, cosmetics, gasoline, gold and silver, fertilizers, fake pesticides, cold storage, rice, food, fashion and other consumer goods. Focus on thematic inspections, conduct surprise inspections when necessary and strictly handle acts of smuggling, manufacturing and trading of counterfeit goods, goods infringing on intellectual property rights, goods of unknown origin, especially in cyberspace. In the process of performing their duties, the inspection teams must ensure that they do not cause trouble or hinder the normal, legal business activities of business households.

Market management boards and commune-level People's Committees shall review and grasp the area, compile a detailed list of production and business establishments showing signs of deliberately stopping operations, or acts that hinder the inspection and control work of inspection teams in order to have solutions to deal with the above establishments. At the same time, disseminate the law, mobilize organizations and individuals in production and business, especially in the field of e-commerce, to sign a commitment not to participate in illegal activities. Member sectors need to enhance their responsibility in supervising public services, resolutely handle officials who cover up and are negative.

Fighting against counterfeit goods, fake goods and commercial fraud is a battle that requires determination, determination and synchronous coordination. The authorities continue to improve the effectiveness of state management, proactively listen, and work together to overcome difficulties with the business community and people. All for a safe, civilized and sustainable market, ensuring the rights of consumers and businesses, and legitimate production and business establishments.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/cao-diem-dau-tranh-chong-buon-lau-gian-lan-thuong-mai-va-hang-gia-3nFBrlBHg.html