On September 26, Lam Dong province, in collaboration with Phap Luat Ho Chi Minh City Newspaper, organized a seminar in Da Lat city to discuss “Solutions to Protect Da Lat Agricultural Product Brands.”
Mr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Vice Editor-in-Chief of Phap Luat Ho Chi Minh City Newspaper
According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Vice Editor-in-Chief of Phap Luat Ho Chi Minh City Newspaper, as of September 2024, the total export turnover of Vietnam’s vegetable industry reached 5.6 billion USD, equaling the total export value of the entire previous year. However, the situation of infringement of Vietnamese agricultural product brands is becoming more sophisticated. Therefore, protecting the brand of Da Lat agricultural products, in particular, and Vietnamese agricultural products, in general, poses challenges that need to be thoroughly addressed.
In her presentation at the seminar, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Quy Tu, Head of the Department of Quality Management of Agricultural, Forestry, and Aquatic Products of Lam Dong province, said that the province currently has 37 labels that have been granted exclusive certificates (including 25 certification marks and 9 collective marks); 2 trademarks registered for protection abroad; 407 OCOP products have been certified with 221 subjects participating in the program; and 768 labels of “Da Lat – The Magic Crystallization from the Good Land” granted by Lam Dong province.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Quy Tu, Head of the Department of Quality Management of Agricultural, Forestry, and Aquatic Products of Lam Dong province
Counterfeit goods not only lead to poor customer experiences but also affect the reputation of Da Lat agricultural products. This issue will cause legitimate farmers and agricultural businesses to face reduced revenue and losses. Consequently, the value of authentic products will be impacted and subsequently decline.
Mr. Tran Huy Duong, owner of Langbiang Farm, a well-known agricultural brand, asserted that in addition to potatoes and carrots, grapes, apples, and pears are also falsely labeled as imported products. He was impressed by how Japanese farmers print their pictures along with their farm’s logo on the products they sell.
“Traceability and management are one thing, but first, farmers must protect themselves. I believe that there should be an information label indicating the place of production to avoid unclear origin products from entering the market. If there is a violation, strict control and severe punishment must be imposed,” shared Mr. Duong.
Scene at the seminar “Solutions to Protect Da Lat Agricultural Product Brands”
To protect his farm’s reputation, Mr. Duong has established a brand for his agricultural products, complete with product standards, Global GAP standards, and clear QR codes. Notably, each product has a story, and this story is narrated on the packaging to attract consumers.
Ms. Luong Thi Yen Van, Director of Vuon Nha Da Lat Cooperative, expressed her frustration: “When it comes to potato farming, most of our hundreds of farmers are not enthusiastic because the price of fake Da Lat potatoes is lower than that of genuine ones. As a result, the income of our farmers, who put in hard work and dedication, is affected, and consumers find it challenging to distinguish between authentic and fake products.”
From a legal perspective, Lawyer Tran Cao Dai Ky Quan stated that counterfeiting goods is a violation of the law, not only harming consumers’ rights but also tarnishing the reputation of domestic agricultural products. He suggested increasing penalties by proposing higher administrative fines or even criminal prosecution and applying supplementary measures such as shutting down offending businesses and publicly disclosing information about violating enterprises and individuals to raise social awareness and enhance deterrence.
Lam Dong Provincial Police inspecting a facility that was “transforming” Chinese potatoes into Da Lat potatoes.
Concluding the seminar, Mr. Pham S, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lam Dong province, acknowledged that Lam Dong is unique in its agricultural development, with many characteristic crops. Over the years, Lam Dong has successfully built high-value agricultural products, such as the brand “Da Lat – The Magic Crystallization from the Good Land,” which is exported to many countries worldwide.
“Commercial fraud is like a grain of sand that should not exist, and we need to find a way to eradicate it thoroughly,” said Mr. S.
According to Mr. S, commercial fraud in agricultural products like potatoes and carrots has occurred since 2012. In 2015, many traders in Da Lat bought agricultural products from China and labeled them as Da Lat products. The Da Lat authorities took a firm stance and banned all acts of importing foreign agricultural products into Da Lat.
Regarding the causes, Mr. S analyzed that there are several factors, including the high quality and production costs of Da Lat agricultural products and the lack of coordination among management agencies.
Mr. Pham S, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lam Dong province.
In addition to the solutions proposed and implemented by the authorities, farmers also need to improve productivity and reduce production costs by applying mechanization and technology in their farming practices.
Specialized agencies should invest in scientific research, especially in crop breeding, to enhance product quality. Lastly, there should be stricter management of product brands and quality, including clear identification of product origins and the utilization of technology to distinguish between genuine and fake products.
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