Launching a 'nationwide sweep' campaign against counterfeit goods, smuggling, and copyright infringement

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just signed Official Dispatch No. 65/CD-TTg dated May 15, 2025 on launching a peak period to fight against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights.

No forbidden zones, no exceptions in processing

In the telegram, the Prime Minister requested to launch a peak attack to fight and repel crimes of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, copyright infringement, and intellectual property rights infringement nationwide, from May 15, 2025 to June 15, 2025, after which a preliminary assessment will be conducted.

The Head of Government also requested the establishment of a Working Group led by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son - Head of the National Steering Committee 389 as Head of the Group, with members including leaders of ministries and agencies: Public Security, National Defense, Finance, Industry and Trade, Health, Agriculture and Environment, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Science and Technology, Government agencies, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, and the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389.

Press agencies should strengthen propaganda and communication work on the results of the peak period of units and functional forces in the fight to prevent and repel smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights; commend positive examples and good practices of ministries, branches, localities and people; and criticize negative behaviors and lack of responsibility.

The Prime Minister requested the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations to closely coordinate with ministries, branches and authorities at all levels in mobilizing union members to participate in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

“Comrades, Secretaries of Provincial and Municipal Party Committees directly under the Central Government, lead and direct Party committees at all levels and the entire political system in the localities to participate in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods,” the dispatch stated.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Public Security to direct the national police force to closely coordinate with functional forces to focus on identifying organizations and individuals suspected of smuggling, trade fraud, production and trade of counterfeit goods, intellectual property infringement, goods of unknown origin and related acts, and deploy professional measures to combat and criminally handle organizations and individuals who commit serious violations in order to promptly deter and warn.

The Ministry of Public Security closely coordinates with judicial agencies and appraisal agencies to organize investigation activities and thoroughly handle cases of smuggling, trade fraud, production and trade of counterfeit goods, intellectual property infringement, and goods of unknown origin at peak times, without letting them drag on. The fight must pay attention to clarifying the roles and responsibilities of organizations and individuals in the management, licensing, inspection, import-export control, circulation... of production materials and goods, strictly handling acts of corruption and negativity (if any) in accordance with the provisions of law with the motto "handling one case, warning the whole region, the whole field", "no forbidden areas, no exceptions".

From the results of the work of grasping the situation, fighting and handling cases and incidents, it is necessary to evaluate and point out the causes and conditions for committing crimes, loopholes and inadequacies in legal regulations or management mechanisms of functional departments that subjects take advantage of to commit crimes and violate the law to advise the Party, State and Government, recommend solutions to ministries, branches and localities to overcome; difficulties and obstacles in the work of fighting and handling crimes to perfect criminal law, especially the revised Penal Code.

Each ministry and sector must identify and strictly handle violations at their root.

The Ministry of National Defense is assigned to direct the Border Guard and Coast Guard forces to coordinate with the Police and other functional forces to patrol and control border areas, combat smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and infringement of intellectual property rights, and ensure the maintenance of order and safety in border areas and at sea.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade coordinates with the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct the Market Management force to strengthen inspection and strictly handle cases of smuggling, production and trading of counterfeit goods, goods infringing on intellectual property rights, goods of unknown origin, especially violations in the e-commerce environment. From the results of review, inspection, handling, and assessment, point out the causes, conditions of violations, loopholes, and inadequacies in legal regulations or management mechanisms that subjects take advantage of to violate the law to propose solutions to overcome; perfect the institutions on e-commerce, especially the Law on E-commerce.

The Ministry of Finance directs the Customs force to perform well in professional work, collect information, and coordinate closely with relevant forces to promptly detect and handle smuggling, tax evasion, and transportation of prohibited goods and counterfeit goods of Vietnamese origin.

The Ministry of Health shall strengthen, step up inspection, control, and strictly handle the trading and business of counterfeit drugs, smuggled drugs, fake pharmaceuticals, and drugs of unknown origin; require scientists and managers of the health sector 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; and be responsible before the law for any fraudulent advertising.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment strengthens inspection and strictly handles violations related to forestry, fisheries, production and trade of fake plant varieties, livestock, fertilizers and pesticides.

The Ministry of Science and Technology urgently reviews, amends and supplements regulations on intellectual property to adjust newly arising issues, especially in the digital environment and e-commerce, perfects regulations on product and goods quality to ensure consistency and synchronization in legal regulations; strengthens inspection and strictly handles organizations and individuals who violate regulations on false announcement and advertising.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will study and supplement sanctions against agencies requesting advertising, agencies carrying out advertising, individuals, artists and celebrities who take advantage of their reputation to engage in false advertising, especially on social networks.

Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall promptly establish local working groups headed by the Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities with appropriate participants; at the same time, resolutely direct local Market Management forces to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to strictly handle acts of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, imitation goods, goods of unknown origin, and intellectual property infringement in the area.

Relevant ministries, agencies, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall promptly report on the results of detection, arrest, and handling of serious and complicated cases and incidents; and report to the National Steering Committee 389 (Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389) to summarize the peak implementation.

The Prime Minister assigned the National Steering Committee 389 (Standing Office) to monitor, inspect, and urge ministries, branches, and localities to implement this Official Dispatch, and periodically report to the Prime Minister on the implementation results.

Thanh Ha

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/mo-chien-dich-truy-quet-toan-quoc-hang-gia-buon-lau-vi-pham-ban-quyen-post548567.html