Strongly clean up the market's "toxic trash"

Market management forces inspect electronic goods trading activities in Diem Dien town (Thai Thuy).

Smuggled goods, counterfeit goods

Faced with the fact that authorities in many localities have discovered and handled many cases of production and trading of counterfeit goods such as milk, functional foods and recently pig intestines, in order to promptly prevent smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the area, the Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP recently held a meeting to evaluate the results of activities in the first 4 months of the year and discuss more effective management solutions. Mr. Tran Huy Quan, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP said: Although not a key area for the production and distribution of counterfeit and smuggled goods, Thai Binh is a consumer market that is fraught with many potential risks and is having unpredictable developments.

In fact, violators are increasingly using sophisticated tricks to transport, store and consume illegal goods. The main infringing goods include food of unknown origin, cosmetics, clothing, old electronics, smuggled cigarettes, goods that violate intellectual property rights, etc. Notably, trade fraud is emerging in the import-export sector, especially the phenomenon of enterprises importing goods of foreign origin, processing at a very low rate but declaring Vietnamese origin to take advantage of preferential tariff policies and national brand fraud. Mr. Tran Quoc Chinh, Deputy Head of Thai Binh Provincial Customs Department, said: In the first 4 months of 2025 alone, the unit detected and handled 38 violations, an increase of 117% over the same period in 2024; the total fine was 150 million VND, an increase of 120%; forced to re-export 4 shipments. The main violations are false declaration of origin and incomplete labeling to commit trade and tax fraud. Mr. Chinh further emphasized that the phenomenon of businesses importing foreign goods, only lightly processing them to label them “made in Vietnam” is becoming a worrying issue.

In addition, many subjects also take advantage of e-commerce and social networks to trade in goods of unknown origin, counterfeit goods, and imitations of famous brands, causing serious damage to consumers and legitimate businesses. Meanwhile, controlling and handling violations via the online environment still faces many difficulties due to the lack of specialized monitoring tools and sanctions that are not strong enough to deter.

Authorities intervene

Faced with the above situation, the Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP has directed its member sectors to deploy many synchronous and drastic solutions. The functional forces from the police, market management, customs, border guards to related sectors have strengthened inspection, examination, and strictly handled violations, while proactively grasping the situation and fighting with focus and key points. Colonel Pham Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, commented: Although not a production and distribution area to other provinces, Thai Binh is a market with many problems related to counterfeit and poor quality goods. There are many reasons, but there are subjective reasons due to the limited public responsibility of some cadres, the coordination and sharing of information among member sectors to serve the fight against and prevention is not tight, regular, and timely, these shortcomings need to be overcome soon.

Together with the Provincial Police, the customs and market management forces also improved the effectiveness of inspection and control at key routes and locations such as port areas, industrial parks, industrial clusters, supermarkets, wholesale markets, and goods delivery points. In addition, the inspection and handling of violations on e-commerce platforms were also coordinated by functional sectors. The units collected data from consumer feedback, analyzed abnormal signs of prices and origins of goods to promptly handle subjects taking advantage of the online environment to trade in illegal goods. In the first 4 months of the year, the functional forces discovered and arrested 671 cases/756 violators; criminally prosecuted 163 cases/228 subjects; the total amount of money collected for the state budget was 12,650,884,500 VND. Particularly for establishments producing and trading in milk, dairy products, medicines, health protection foods, medical equipment, medical examination and treatment, and food safety, since the beginning of the year, the authorities have inspected 179 cases, handled 146 cases, and the total amount of administrative fines paid to the state budget is more than 1 billion VND.

Authorities are determined to fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, protect consumers and maintain a stable and healthy market.

Clean up "toxic trash" from the market

According to the assessment of the Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP, in the coming time, the situation of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods - "toxic garbage" of the market will continue to have complicated developments, especially during peak occasions such as summer, festivals, year-end... When consumer demand increases, violators will take advantage to mix in and bring poor quality goods of unknown origin into the market. Faced with that reality, the Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP has synchronously deployed many solutions. On the one hand, tightening market management, strengthening inter-sectoral inspections with focus and key points. On the other hand, directing member units to build long-term combat projects, coordinating information between sectors to eradicate all lines and groups of violations.

Colonel Pham Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Provincial Police Department, added: The Provincial Police Department will develop and deploy a number of key projects, focusing on food products directly related to people's health and lives. Colonel Nham Xuan Tinh, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command, said: The situation of counterfeit goods and intellectual property rights violations is still unpredictable. Therefore, we will coordinate with relevant agencies to strengthen market inspection, strictly control fishing port areas, and imported goods trading establishments, to prevent shipments of unknown origin from entering the domestic market.

The Provincial Steering Committee 389/DP also requested member sectors to strengthen propaganda and dissemination of laws to people and businesses, which is also identified as a key step. When consumers have the knowledge to identify genuine and fake goods, when businesses are aware of complying with the law, the "fertile ground" for fake and smuggled goods will truly be narrowed. The province will also consider supplementing legal tools, proposing to improve the mechanism for handling violations in the online environment, enhancing sanctions, and increasing deterrence.

The fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods is a long-term battle, requiring the synchronous, drastic and persistent participation of the entire political system, functional agencies and the whole society. Despite many difficulties, with proactiveness, flexibility and high determination, Thai Binh is and will continue to be a safe place for production, business, protection of consumer rights and a healthy commercial environment.

Khac Duan

Source: https://baothaibinh.com.vn/tin-tuc/4/223793/manh-tay-don-rac-doc-cua-thi-truong