HCM CITY — The distribution of fake, low-quality and pirated goods is increasing relentlessly and can only be prevented through combined efforts by all sectors, a seminar heard in HCM City on Friday.

“The long-term fight against fake, low-quality and pirated commodities cannot [succeed] without the active co-operation of enterprises and society,” Trịnh Văn Ngọc, head of the Industry and Trade Ministry’s market monitoring agency, told the conference titled ‘Improvement of public-private co-operation efficiency in anti-counterfeiting and -IPR infringement’.

According to a report from the agency, violations are becoming increasingly sophisticated and well–organised, especially in the cases of food, agricultural materials, construction materials, drugs and consumer goods.

“Counterfeits and fakes are everywhere,” Kiều Nghiệp of the anti-counterfeit centre said.

In 2017 market monitoring forces and other authorities ​busted 19,000 cases involving fake, low-quality or pirated goods worth VNĐ518 billion and fined offenders VNĐ 73.8 billion, he said.

​But they represented just the tip of the iceberg, he said.

​He blamed feeble penalties, poor co-operation between various agencies, limited human resources, especially for cases related to international agreements Việt Nam has signed, outdated equipment and facilities for the inability to root out fakes and piracy.

“Some enterprises are not aware of the seriousness of the counterfeit problem, others do not actively co-operate with authorities and most of the public are ignorant about it."

To combat the situation, the centre said market watch forces should closely monitor goods that are prone to being pirated and faked as well as people found trading such goods in the past.

“They should work closely with enterprises and related authorities.

“The most important thing is the force​s should regularly update law​makers​ ​on the changing situation.

“Enterprises and business groups need to have greater awareness of counterfeits and co-operate closely with relevant authorities.

“Enterprises should improve their technologies to make it harder​ for their goods to be faked.” — VNS