HÀ NỘI — Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh has asked market surveillance to promote its role and functions to fight smuggling, trade fraud and fake commodities.

The trade minister had a meeting with the General Department of Market Management and other agencies to discuss measure on combating smuggling, trade fraud and fake goods on Monday.

Director of the General Department for Market Management Trần Hữu Linh said that commercial fraud was becoming more sophisticated.

The problem of fake and poor quality goods was also continuing, especially in food products, agricultural materials, medicine, cosmetics and homeware.

Although the general department had achieved certain results in inspection and control of the market from the beginning of this year, these results were still small compared to the market demand, he said.

One of the difficulties was due to professional inquiries, he noted.

Linh said that the department would intensify inspection and control in the peak season of the upcoming Lunar New Year.

In addition, the department also directed its branches to co-ordinate with the functional forces to stop fraud related to fake goods on national highways and border routes.

The minister requested the department to conduct an in-depth study, analyse and draw out the orientations and solutions for later cases. He asked the market management authority to work with other agencies of the national steering committee against smuggling, trade fraud and fake goods; and share information with Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defense, General Department of Customs and General Department of Taxation.

In addition, he asked the department to organise professional training, and enhance knowledge of its officials. — VNS