National solution to prevent counterfeit goods

Solutions for identifying, authenticating, and tracing the origin of goods are being developed to prevent counterfeit and fake goods. It is expected that the Ministry of Public Security will preside over the issuance of identification codes for all types of goods in Vietnam via the National Public Service Portal.

People scan the code to trace the origin and information about the product before buying - Photo: QUANG DINH

Traceability has been applied in many industries and fields in Vietnam, which can help limit counterfeit and fake goods. However, according to experts, current solutions are still not consistent, inconsistent and have many loopholes.

All-in-one solution

The situation will change because the National Data Association (the Minister of Public Security is the chairman) said it is developing a solution to identify, authenticate, and trace the origin of goods - NDA Trace - with the goal of preventing counterfeit and pirated goods in Vietnam.

The NDA Trace solution will be chaired by the Ministry of Public Security to issue unique commodity identification codes (UIDs) according to international standards for all types of goods in Vietnam through the National Public Service Portal.

All NDA Trace data is integrated from ministries and branches: customs, tax, health , market management, industry and trade... into the national data infrastructure, exploited on the National Public Service Portal and the platform for identification, authentication, and traceability of goods.

NDA Trace is a system of identification - authentication - traceability to each specific product and commodity thanks to the application of the national blockchain platform (NDA Chain) and decentralized identification technology (NDA DID).

Each product is assigned a unique identification code, helping to transparently track the entire journey from production to the consumer. All operations of subjects in the supply chain are recorded and authenticated, cannot be faked, cannot be edited.

In particular, NDA Trace also connects directly with e-commerce platforms to verify product codes before allowing them to be posted for sale. Accordingly, the system will connect to traceability with inspection data, licenses, warnings of unqualified products; publicly notify people and the distribution system.

Participants in the supply chain (from manufacturers, inspection agencies, transport - distribution units to consumers) can easily check information, origin and authentication activities in the product life cycle through NDATrace ID (in the form of QR code or identification chip) without having to register an account.

According to experts, users can easily scan the UID code to trace the origin of each product in a transparent, safe and effective manner. In addition, consumers can also confirm purchases, participate in membership point accumulation programs and customer care.

According to the development team, the application has currently identified and authenticated over 400 types of items with over 25,000 stamps/identification codes issued.

According to the plan, the application will be officially deployed in the third quarter of this year with the integration of the platform into national public services such as customs, taxes, e-commerce, market management, etc. In the fourth quarter, it will be piloted in 3 localities/industry groups as well as completing the legal requirements for mandatory identification. In the first quarter of 2026, it will be deployed nationwide.

Mr. Tran Huu Linh, Director of the Department of Market Management and Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade , assessed that product traceability technology will allow management of the product life cycle from its birth to its death.

This goes beyond the usual story of authenticating origin and fighting counterfeiting, it will help businesses better manage their supply chains, do business more transparently and protect consumers.

Applying technology for traceability is mandatory and must be a comprehensive policy from top to bottom, with synchronous management from central to local levels and applied to all businesses.

Users and businesses expect good news

After many recent cases of counterfeit drugs and functional foods being exposed, Ms. Hong Uyen (HCMC) said that instead of ordering online, after several cases of counterfeit drugs being exposed, she had to find a reputable place.

Ms. Uyen believes that it is necessary to introduce NDA Trace technology solution soon to reduce the situation of counterfeit and fake goods. As introduced, by simply scanning the code, consumers will have information about the entire chain from production to transportation, consumption, with inspection by authorities. This will help reduce risks for users.

Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh, information technology director of ECO Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company (ECO Pharma), said that he has invested in applying the most advanced anti-counterfeit stamp technology today, which is scratch code combined with QR code combined with Hologram stamp.

Accordingly, each box of medicine has a unique identification code, allowing traceability to each point of sale nationwide.

However, Mr. Tuan Anh admitted the limitations: there is product identification but lack of connectivity and authentication across the entire supply chain. Furthermore, the traceability capability only serves internal purposes and does not support end users. Mr. Tuan Anh suggested putting NDA Trace into operation soon.

According to Tuoi Tre's research, many other solutions are also used by businesses and organizations to authenticate and trace product origins.

For example, physical anti-counterfeiting stamp solutions using 3D printing technology and fragile stamps are commonly used but are easily copied and have no traceability data. QR code, code, and barcode solutions are not independently authenticated.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Nghi, Director of the Center for Enterprise Digital Solutions, VNPT IT Information Technology Company, commented: in the initial implementation phase, manufacturing enterprises may find it cumbersome, with many steps in procedures, code declaration...

But for businesses that do business honestly, all of these things will bring a lot of great value to them, because the products they bring to the market will be trusted. Participating in the above process chain, businesses can also participate in the supply chain, and can even inform government agencies about the quality of goods or problems.

Mr. Nguyen Huy, head of technology, National Data Association (NDA), said that the implementation of traceability in the old way is still very fragmented and separate.

There is no consistent mechanism from top to bottom on how to do it, and it is not based on national and international standards. In particular, it is not authenticated by a state agency.

With NDATrace ID, Mr. Huy believes that in the context of the whole country's digital transformation, the application of technology for traceability is mandatory and must be a comprehensive policy from top to bottom, with synchronous management from the central to local levels and applied to all businesses, only then can the origin of goods be identified, authenticated and traced.

Counterfeit goods are everywhere from supermarkets to hospitals.

At the workshop "Traceability Authentication - The driving force for sustainable development of Vietnam's digital economy" recently organized by the National Data Association, Ministry of Public Security, Colonel Pham Minh Tien, National Data Center, Ministry of Public Security, said that counterfeit goods are entering supermarkets and hospitals...

"Therefore, the requirement for authenticity, transparency and traceability of goods not only serves state management but is also a prerequisite for enhancing domestic market confidence and international integration," said Mr. Tien.

47,000

That is the number of counterfeit/fraud cases handled in 2024 with an increasing trend on e-commerce platforms and social networks. According to the National Center for Codes and Barcodes, the situation of counterfeit goods in the country is increasingly complicated. Counterfeit goods are increasingly penetrating people's lives through foods, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giai-phap-quoc-gia-chan-hang-gia-hang-nhai-20250721074421718.htm