The Prime Minister requested that the Ministry of Health take the lead in combating and eradicating counterfeit drugs, prioritizing the protection and care of people’s health above all else.
On May 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting with ministries, sectors, and central agencies to evaluate the efforts against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, intellectual property infringement, and goods of unknown origin in the first months of 2025 and to discuss future tasks.
Exploitation of E-commerce
According to the National Steering Committee for Smuggling, Trade Fraud, and Counterfeit Goods Control (Steering Committee 389), in the first months of 2025, local authorities and units intensified their efforts against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, handling over 34,000 cases of violations and initiating prosecutions for nearly 1,400 cases involving more than 2,100 subjects. The report also pointed out the emergence of activities along border areas, at gateways, and in coastal areas involving the illegal transport of prohibited goods such as drugs, firecrackers, foreign cigarettes, smuggled goods, and goods of unknown origin, as well as counterfeit and low-quality goods.
In the domestic market, violations related to the production and trading of counterfeit goods, infringement of intellectual property rights, and trading of smuggled goods continue to occur in most provinces and cities. Individuals and organizations exploit e-commerce, online shopping on social media, and express delivery services to trade goods of unknown origin, counterfeit, and substandard quality. Additionally, social media platforms and live streaming tools are used to advertise and trade smuggled, counterfeit, and substandard quality goods.
At the meeting, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Lam, Deputy Minister of Public Security, stated that due to the complex and severe situation regarding food safety, the Ministry of Public Security has, since the beginning of the year, detected and handled dozens of particularly serious cases with large-scale operations that have been ongoing for a long time, generating thousands of billions of VND in revenue annually, directly harming the health and lives of consumers. Deputy Minister Nguyen Ngoc Lam proposed that the Prime Minister direct ministries, sectors, and localities to promptly review and amend legal regulations to address loopholes and shortcomings in the management mechanism; improve the capacity of state management agencies in licensing, testing, and post-inspection activities; and strengthen inspection and supervision to meet the practical requirements of the new situation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the meeting with ministries, sectors, and central agencies. Photo: NHAT BAC
Swiftly Eradicating Counterfeit Goods
Acknowledging the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, the Prime Minister also pointed out several serious cases that have occurred recently, such as the fake milk case in Hanoi, fake medicine case in Thanh Hoa, fake food case in Phu Tho, health supplement case in Hanoi, and rampant trade of counterfeit goods on social networks, as well as price manipulation and hoarding.
Considering this a significant and severe issue, the Prime Minister frankly stated that there has been negligence on the part of some agencies and localities. He also noted that some individuals involved in the prevention and control work have committed violations, as evidenced by the recent prosecution and detention of the former head of the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health)
In his conclusion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed the launch of a high-peak attack campaign to combat, suppress, prevent, and push back smuggling, trade fraud, production, and circulation of counterfeit goods, imitations, goods of unknown origin, copyright infringement, and intellectual property rights violations. The high-peak campaign will take place from May 15 to June 15, followed by a review.
Regarding specific tasks, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the functions and tasks of ministries and sectors to eliminate legal gaps and prevent management loosening due to organizational restructuring and administrative boundary adjustments.
The Ministry of Public Security was requested to direct functional forces and local police to establish specialized cases and strictly handle violators, in coordination with prosecutorial agencies to expedite the investigation, prosecution, and trial of cases and to publicize the results on mass media to deter and prevent similar violations.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Industry and Trade should direct the market management force to take the main responsibility and coordinate with other agencies to inspect organizations and individuals’ compliance with the law in producing, trading goods, and providing commercial services. The Ministry of Health was urged to promptly control and prevent counterfeit and smuggled drugs of unknown origin from entering Vietnam. This ministry must take the lead, resolutely combat, and push back counterfeit drugs, considering the protection and care of people’s health as the top priority.
Preventing “Panacea” Advertisements
Regarding the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Prime Minister requested to soon study and supplement sanctions to handle those who abuse their reputation to advertise untruthfully, especially on the online environment, and coordinate with relevant agencies to prevent false advertising in the style of “panacea.”
Arrest of a Customs Officer for Aiding the Smuggling of Over 4,000 Cartons of Milk from the US to Vietnam
“Nguyen Thi Hien, a customs official in Ho Chi Minh City, has been implicated in a scandal involving the illicit importation of thousands of cartons of dairy products and nutritional supplements from the United States into Vietnam. “
Combating Counterfeiting and Smuggling: A National Imperative
In a world where authenticity is increasingly blurred, the proliferation of counterfeits, knock-offs, and unethical business practices is eroding trust and distorting markets. Unscrupulous tactics are undermining honest businesses, infiltrating traditional markets, e-commerce platforms, and even the shelves of upscale retailers. This insidious problem not only undermines business ethics but also chips away at public faith in law and fairness.
Special Task Force Established: Prime Minister Orders Crackdown on Illicit Trade and Counterfeiting
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“In a decisive move, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the formation of a special task force to launch a crackdown on illicit activities, including smuggling, trade fraud, and the production and distribution of counterfeit and illicit goods, unknown origin, intellectual property violations, and intellectual property rights infringements. This intensive campaign, lasting from May 15 to June 15, aims to firmly tackle and deter such illegal practices, demonstrating the government’s strong stance against these issues.”
“Prime Minister Orders Special Task Force to Combat Counterfeit Goods in an Intensive Crackdown”
“The Prime Minister has called for stricter penalties to be imposed on individuals who misuse their influence to disseminate false advertising, particularly online. This move underscores the government’s commitment to curbing the spread of misleading information and ensuring that those who exploit their reputation to propagate untruths are held accountable for their actions.”
Breaking News: Pharmacity Recalls Four Products Linked to Counterfeit Manufacturer
Pharmacity is recalling four products: PMC Blood Activator, PMC Gingko Biloba, PMC Joint Care, and PMC Liver Support. The company is offering a full refund to customers who have purchased these products.
