Prime Minister: Launch a peak campaign to crack down on smuggling and trade fraud

The Prime Minister requested the establishment of a special task force to launch a high-profile campaign to crack down on, prevent and repel smuggling and counterfeit goods.

Concluding the working session with ministries, branches and central agencies on the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the first months of 2025 and the direction and tasks for the coming time on the morning of May 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the establishment of a special working group to launch a peak campaign to attack, suppress and repel smuggling, trade fraud, trade in counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods of unknown origin, copyright and intellectual property violations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at a meeting on the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods. Photo: VNA

Smuggling and trade fraud are complicated

At the meeting, leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies, and members of the National Steering Committee 389 assessed that, in recent times, violations of the law on production and trade of counterfeit goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights, goods violating product labels, trading in expired goods, goods of unknown origin, trading in smuggled goods, goods without invoices or documents, etc. continued to occur in most provinces and cities.

Units and localities arrested and handled more than 34,000 violations. Of these, more than 8,200 cases involved trading and transporting prohibited and smuggled goods; more than 25,100 cases involved commercial fraud and tax fraud; more than 1,100 cases involved counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations; more than VND4,897 billion was collected for the state budget; nearly 1,400 cases involved criminal prosecution of more than 2,100 subjects.

However, the situation of smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border is still complicated; the situation of production and trade of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods of unknown origin, goods infringing intellectual property rights is still operating openly; the situation of illegal purchase and sale of invoices, tax fraud and taking advantage of favorable and open conditions in import policies for smuggling and trade fraud has not been detected and handled promptly.

Delegates said that the causes of the above-mentioned shortcomings and limitations are due to the incomplete system of legal documents, especially in e-commerce; the responsibilities and awareness of some leaders are unclear, there are still signs of avoidance and shirking; the exchange and sharing of information and databases between agencies is not good; the coordination between functional forces is not smooth, especially in the context of changes and restructuring of the apparatus of some forces.

Leaders of ministries and branches proposed that, along with overcoming the above limitations, programs, plans and solutions must be developed to combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in accordance with the local situation and task requirements. In particular, focusing on combating and preventing smuggling, illegal transportation of gold, foreign currency, and goods with fake Vietnamese origin; production and trade of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, and goods that infringe intellectual property rights; reviewing legal documents and regulations related to the fight against counterfeit and poor quality goods, promptly proposing amendments and supplements to regulations.

Authorities need to promote digital transformation and apply information technology in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods; strengthen connectivity, information sharing and provision; deploy and improve the effectiveness of hotlines, ensuring timely collection and processing of reports from the public.

In particular, promote production, improve the quality of goods, with suitable and highly competitive prices; promote distribution, increase access to goods for people; strengthen communication and have tools and methods for people to recognize and participate in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods; organize inspections and supervision of anti-smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, promptly detect and strictly handle individuals who assist, protect, and cover up smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the work to combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods is encouraging and commendable. However, the production and trade of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights, smuggling, trade fraud, goods origin, etc. are still complicated, on a large scale, in many fields, in large numbers, affecting social order and safety, socio -economic development, especially affecting people's health, psychology and the country's reputation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the cause of the weakness is that the leadership and direction of all levels, sectors and localities is not really drastic, close, and does not adhere to the contents, especially new contents, new areas, and newly emerging subjects; relevant agencies and localities are still lax in management; institutions are still lacking, outdated, and not close to the situation, especially new and sensitive issues that have arisen; state management of some ministries and sectors is not strict; the organization and regulation of functions and tasks are still overlapping, missing, and have gaps; advisory work is not timely and effective.

Along with that, the inspection, supervision and handling work is still limited; there has not been a movement to mobilize the entire population in preventing and combating the production and trade of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods that infringe intellectual property rights, smuggling, trade fraud and origin of goods; propaganda work has not met requirements; people have not fully understood the sophisticated behaviors of the subjects; solutions for managing advertising and e-business are not effective; the application and use of databases have not been promoted; some organizations and individuals are complicit and assist in violations...

Meeting scene. Photo: VNA

Considering that the situation of smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods is still complicated, the Prime Minister requested to fight, prevent, repel, and eventually end the production and trade of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, intellectual property violations, smuggling, trade fraud, and goods of unknown origin; protect the legitimate and legal rights and interests of people and businesses; contribute to promoting growth, stabilizing the macro-economy, serving the country's rapid and sustainable development, protecting social order, security, safety, and public safety.

According to the Prime Minister, the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, goods of unknown origin, and intellectual property violations is an important task of the entire political system, requiring the mobilization of the entire population; therefore, it must be done regularly, continuously, and without stopping; putting the health, rights, and legitimate interests of the people and consumers first and foremost; contributing to improving national competitiveness and prestige, contributing to building an independent, self-reliant, proactive, and active economy that integrates deeply, substantially, and effectively into the international community.

One medicine that cures all diseases is unscientific and illogical.

Note that the effective enhancement of the fight against the production and trade of counterfeit and poor-quality goods, intellectual property violations, smuggling, trade fraud, and goods of unknown origin must be closely linked to the process of reorganizing the apparatus of the political system, avoiding overlapping or omission of tasks, along with improving management capacity. The Prime Minister directs ministries, branches, agencies, localities, and relevant forces, based on their functions and powers, to proactively review, build, and perfect institutions; organize implementation; inspect, urge, and handle violations, and promptly reward individuals and groups that do well.

The Prime Minister requested the immediate establishment of a special task force, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son, Head of Steering Committee 389, the Ministry of Public Security, to coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to launch a peak campaign to attack, combat, sweep, prevent and repel smuggling, trade fraud, trade in counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods of unknown origin, copyright and intellectual property violations nationwide within 1 month, from May 15 to June 15, 2025.

Requiring clear assignment of people, work, time, products, responsibilities and authority, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed localities to establish local working groups and proactively coordinate and synchronously deploy with the Central Working Group in attacking, preventing and repelling smuggling, trade fraud, copyright and intellectual property infringement.

The Prime Minister pointed out that ministries and branches should review regulations, build and perfect legal institutions, remove difficulties and leave no legal gaps in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, trade in counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods of unknown origin, copyright and intellectual property violations; urgently submit to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in the next session, which also contributes to the implementation of Resolution 66 of the Politburo that has just been issued.

In particular, the Ministry of Home Affairs reviews the functions and tasks of ministries, branches and agencies, especially in the process of reorganizing the apparatus of the political system so as not to affect state management and not to leave gaps in state management in preventing and combating smuggling, trade fraud, trade in counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods of unknown origin, copyright infringement and intellectual property.

Praising the Ministry of Public Security for its proactive efforts in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, production and trade of counterfeit goods, the Prime Minister requested that the Ministry of Public Security continue to establish special projects to strictly handle subjects smuggling, production, trade of counterfeit goods, and circulation of counterfeit goods; coordinate with prosecution agencies to speed up the investigation, prosecution and trial of cases, promptly publicize the results on mass media for deterrence and prevention.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Finance to direct customs and tax agencies to facilitate business operations, while ensuring the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and origin of goods... within its functions, duties, and powers.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade directs market management forces to coordinate with localities and relevant agencies to strictly handle cases of smuggling, production and trade of counterfeit and fake goods; perfect policies on e-commerce, origin of goods, import and export; and strengthen market management forces.

Specialized inspection agencies under ministries and localities are responsible for inspecting from licensing production, business, circulation, tax management, especially with medicines, milk, food, agricultural products... The Prime Minister directed that the tasks of communes and wards must be clearly defined in coordination with departments, branches, and management units to inspect and supervise production facilities in the area.

Representatives of ministries and branches attended the meeting. Photo: VNA

The Ministry of Science and Technology urgently reviews and amends regulations related to intellectual property, adjusts new issues in the digital environment and e-commerce; strengthens the handling of organizations and individuals who publish false product announcements, including the responsibility of media agencies. The Ministry of Health urgently carries out tasks, especially controlling counterfeit drugs and smuggled drugs of unknown origin; resolutely fights, repels and puts an end to the situation of counterfeit drugs.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment coordinate with relevant agencies to conduct post-inspection, especially for fake food, fake medicines, and those of unknown origin; perfect regulations on post-inspection and licensing of goods, with the spirit of being able to control but having to be open; actively apply digital transformation, build databases; develop the Food Safety Law, amend decrees and guiding circulars, strengthen sanctions, and promote the self-awareness of relevant entities.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment strengthens inspection and supervision of violations of forestry products, aquatic products, plant and animal breeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and controls the excessive use of stimulants and chemicals, especially for durian and aquatic products...

The Ministry of Justice coordinates with ministries and branches to promote, supplement and perfect institutions to manage and promote production and business development. The Ministry of National Defense directs the Border Guard to coordinate with the police and other forces to strengthen strict management at the border, ensure social order and safety, and control smuggling, counterfeit goods and fake goods across the border.

The Prime Minister requested the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to coordinate with relevant agencies to strictly handle cases of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and goods of unknown origin; and pay attention to socio-economic development in remote, isolated and border areas.

Sharing about the fact that there are advertisements that show that there is a medicine that can cure all diseases, which is scientifically incorrect and illogical, the Prime Minister requested that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism study and add sanctions to handle those who take advantage of their reputation, such as artists and celebrities, to advertise falsely on the internet.

News agencies, newspapers, and functional forces organize columns and increase the time to propagate, mobilize, explain, and warn people to better understand the dangers related to smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, copyright and intellectual property infringement. At the same time, review advertising on information channels to avoid letting in bad and toxic information, especially false advertisements about products and services; strictly handle violations according to the law./.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/thu-tuong-mo-dot-cao-diem-tan-cong-truy-quet-buon-lau-gian-lan-thuong-mai-702215.html