Special Task Force Established: Prime Minister Orders Crackdown on Illicit Trade and Counterfeiting I hope that captures the essence of your request. Let me know if you would like me to make any adjustments or provide additional content related to this topic.

On the morning of May 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting with ministries, sectors, and central agencies to evaluate the work of combating smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property and origin fraud in the first months of 2025 and future directions and tasks.

The meeting was attended by: Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the National Steering Committee 389 Bui Thanh Son; leaders of ministries, sectors, and central agencies; and members of the National Steering Committee 389.

According to reports and opinions at the meeting, in the first months of 2025, units and localities have intensified their efforts to combat smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, handling more than 34,000 cases of violations. This includes over 8,200 cases of smuggling and trading prohibited goods; more than 25,100 cases of trade fraud and tax evasion; and over 1,100 cases of counterfeiting and intellectual property violations. More than VND 4,897 billion has been collected for the state budget, and nearly 1,400 cases have been prosecuted, involving over 2,100 individuals.

In the future, ministries, sectors, and agencies will continue to strictly implement the directives of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the National Steering Committee 389 on combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods.

They will develop programs, plans, and solutions for combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods that are suitable for the situation in their respective areas and tasks. Particular focus will be given to effectively combating and preventing activities related to the illegal buying and selling of drugs, smuggling and illegal transportation of gold, foreign currencies, and goods with fake Vietnamese origins for export to other countries; production and trading of counterfeit and low-quality goods; and intellectual property violations.

Ministries and sectors will review legal documents and regulations related to the fight against counterfeit and low-quality goods, promptly proposing amendments and supplements to address limitations and inadequacies, and creating a legal framework to enhance the effectiveness of anti-smuggling, anti-trade fraud, and anti-counterfeit measures.

Functional forces will promote digital transformation and the application of information technology in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods; strengthen connectivity, information sharing, and collaboration; and deploy and improve hotlines to ensure timely collection and handling of reports from the people.

Supervision and inspection by ministries and sectors regarding the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, as well as the performance of functional forces, will be enhanced. The responsibility of Party committees, authorities, and leaders of agencies and organizations in this work will be emphasized, and strict handling of individuals who collude with, protect, or cover up smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit activities will be ensured.

The National Steering Committee 389 and the Steering Committees 389 of ministries, sectors, and localities will be reorganized, and decisions and regulations on their activities will be amended to improve the effectiveness of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods. Inter-sectoral inspection teams will be proactively established to monitor and supervise the compliance of enterprises, organizations, and individuals, promptly detecting and handling violators.

Prevent, Push Back, and Aim to End

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged the efforts and achievements of the functional forces in leading, directing, and fighting against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, intellectual property violations, and origin fraud. However, he pointed out that the situation of smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, intellectual property violations, and origin fraud remains complex, widespread, involving many individuals and entities, and having serious impacts on socio-economic development, people’s health, trust, and national reputation and brand.

The Prime Minister attributed these issues to the following reasons: insufficiently thorough and proactive leadership and direction, as well as inadequate and untimely advising, by some ministries, sectors, and localities; lax management by some agencies; outdated regulations that have not been amended or supplemented in a timely manner; limitations in organization and implementation, with overlapping functions and tasks and gaps in coverage; and insufficient mobilization of the people.

In addition, there are gaps in the understanding of some people due to limited information, guidance, and communication. Handling of violations has not been timely or thorough, and coordination among agencies has not always been close. The rapid development of e-commerce has outpaced management capacity. Furthermore, there have been cases of individuals involved in the fight against these issues who have themselves violated the law, such as the recent case of the former head of the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) being arrested and detained.

Assessing that the situation will remain complex and may become even more challenging, the Prime Minister emphasized the goal of fighting, preventing, pushing back, and aiming to end smuggling, trade fraud, production and circulation of counterfeit and unclear-origin goods, intellectual property violations, and origin fraud.

By doing so, we will protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people and businesses, improve the material and spiritual life of the people, and contribute to the rapid and sustainable development of the country, promote growth, consolidate macro-economic stability, ensure security and safety, and enhance national competitiveness, reputation, and brand, while building an independent and self-reliant economy in tandem with proactive and active international integration.

Regarding the viewpoint, the Prime Minister stated that this is an important task for the entire political system, and Party committees and authorities at all levels must be involved. It is necessary to strengthen state management at all levels and in all sectors, mobilizing the participation of the people. This is a long-term task that must be carried out regularly, comprehensively, and continuously.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the protection of people’s health and legitimate rights and interests must be given the highest priority. Enhancing the effectiveness of prevention and control of smuggling, trade fraud, production and circulation of counterfeit and unclear-origin goods, intellectual property violations, and origin fraud must be linked to the process of administrative boundary rearrangement and the organization of local governments at two levels, with a streamlined apparatus and improved management capacity, clearly defining the responsibilities of agencies to avoid overlap and gaps.

Affirming that this is an issue of great concern to the people and affects their health and rights, the Prime Minister stressed the need for a breakthrough in preventing and combating smuggling, trade fraud, production and circulation of counterfeit and unclear-origin goods, intellectual property violations, and origin fraud. Ministries, sectors, and localities must focus on leadership and direction, proactively building and perfecting institutions, mechanisms, and policies, and effectively implementing and closely coordinating them. They should also strengthen inspection, supervision, and violation handling, and attach importance to emulation and commendation in a timely, objective, and fair manner.

Regarding specific tasks and solutions, the Prime Minister first requested the launch of a high-intensity campaign to combat, crack down, prevent, and reverse smuggling, trade fraud, production and circulation of counterfeit and unclear-origin goods, intellectual property violations, and origin fraud. The Prime Minister directed the establishment of a special task force led by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son. Localities will also establish task forces headed by their Chairpersons, with the participation of representatives from relevant sectors, to implement the campaign from May 15 to June 15, followed by a review…

Prevent False Advertising Such as ‘Miracle Cure’ Claims

Assigning tasks to ministries and sectors, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the functions and tasks of ministries and sectors, ensuring no legal gaps and no lax management due to organizational or apparatus rearrangement or administrative boundary changes.

The Ministry of Public Security will direct functional forces and local police to establish specialized cases and strictly handle violators, in coordination with procuracy and court agencies to expedite the investigation, prosecution, and trial of cases, and publicize the results on mass media to deter and prevent violations. On this occasion, the Prime Minister commended the efforts of the public security force, which has closely followed the situation and actively carried out professional work, and emphasized the heavy tasks ahead for the sector in this regard.

The Ministry of Finance will direct the customs and tax sectors to facilitate businesses while ensuring the prevention of violations within their functions, tasks, and powers.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with provincial/municipal People’s Committees, will direct the market management force to handle violations, improve e-commerce policies, and take the lead in reviewing legal documents within their competence and proposing amendments or supplements to circulars. If it falls under the competence of the Government, they will propose amendments or supplements to decrees and resolutions, and build and amend relevant laws to be submitted to the National Assembly in the shortest time frame.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will lead and direct the market management force to take primary responsibility and coordinate with inspection agencies in checking the compliance of organizations and individuals in the production and trading of goods and commercial services. Specialized inspection agencies of ministries, sectors, and localities will be responsible for licensing and management in their respective fields and areas, especially for goods such as medicines, milk, food, and commodities.

At the same time, they will specify the tasks of People’s Committees at the commune level in coordinating with specialized agencies to inspect and supervise production establishments in their areas, build the Law on E-commerce, amend the Law on Commerce, amend the Decree on Goods Origin, and relevant decrees on import and export. They will also reorganize the market management force in localities, research and propose agencies to take primary responsibility in case of violations in their areas, and strengthen the building of brands and geographical indications for Vietnamese goods.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will urgently review, amend, and supplement regulations related to intellectual property, addressing emerging issues, especially in the digital and e-commerce environment, and strengthen inspection and handling of organizations and individuals that violate intellectual property rights and make false product claims.

The Ministry of Health will urgently carry out relevant tasks, especially controlling the entry of fake and smuggled medicines of unknown origin into Vietnam, taking the lead and resolutely fighting to push back and end fake medicines, and putting the protection of people’s health and life first.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade will coordinate with relevant agencies to strengthen post-inspection, strictly handle violations, especially regarding fake food and medicines, improve post-inspection regulations and licensing procedures, aiming for effective control while ensuring openness and actively promoting digital transformation and building databases. They will also build the Law on Food Safety, amend outdated decrees and circulars, strengthen sanctions, raise the self-awareness of relevant subjects, and promote the response of the people.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will strengthen inspection, supervision, and strict handling of violations related to forest, aquatic, and agricultural products, seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection drugs, as well as the use of stimulants and chemicals. At the same time, they will promote the building of brands and geographical indications, and plan and develop raw material areas and expand markets for agricultural and aquatic products.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will study and supplement sanctions for those who abuse their influence to make false advertising claims, especially on online platforms, and coordinate with relevant agencies to prevent false advertising such as ‘miracle cure’ claims.

The Ministry of Justice will coordinate with ministries and sectors to promote, supplement, and perfect institutions to manage and promote production and business development.

People’s Committees of provinces and cities will direct the market management force to strictly handle violations in their areas, pay attention to socio-economic development, especially in remote and border areas, and coordinate with border guards and local police to strengthen border management, ensure social order and safety, and prevent and combat smuggling and trade fraud.

Media agencies, including VTV, VOV, VNA, and press agencies, along with functional forces, will strengthen communication and propagation on this work, explaining the harm of violations and mobilizing the strength of the people, while reviewing and controlling advertising activities.

The Prime Minister also requested the launching of an emulation movement to combat smuggling, trade fraud, production and circulation of counterfeit goods, intellectual property violations, and origin fraud. He noted that agencies need high determination, great efforts, and decisive, effective, focused, and targeted actions in this work, with clear assignment of “people, tasks, time, responsibility, authority, and products.”