Deflating illegal gas
production
(04-12-2009)
HA NOI — A new programme on minimising the illegal production
and trade of gas was introduced yesterday in a deal between the Ministry of
Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Viet Nam Gas Association.
The programme, which also involves the Firefighting Department,
is aimed at raising the awareness, roles and responsibilities of the association
and of relevant enterprises in building and defending their trademarks, as well
as getting more involved in the fight against counterfeits and the illegal trade
of gas products.
Gas trading had been operated under a market mechanism since
2001, said Deputy Minister of MoIC Nguyen Cam Tu. "Despite the late adoption of
the mechanism, the gas market has grown in both quantity and scale," said Tu
yesterday at the signing ceremony of the Regulation of Co-ordination, between
the MoIT’s Market Management Department, the Association and the Firefighting
Department.
There were around 80 gas companies nationwide, with their
network of shops and agencies constantly expanding. Gas was considered a product
with a stabilised price, with its retail price based on State-controlled market
mechanism.
The gas market’s fast development, however, had also brought
about illegal trading of fake products, as well as unfair competition among gas
enterprises and companies. That had badly effected consumers and authentic
dealers and companies. The investment environment was also seriously damaged,
while the State budget had suffered some big losses.
Despite the quick development of the gas trade, a legal system
to adjust and manage it was not yet completed. Co-ordination among inspectors
and management bodies, and relevant enterprises and the association was still
poor, which had led to wrongdoing.
"It is necessary for the association, enterprises and companies
to improve their co-ordination with the market management force to uphold their
collective power to ensure the stability of the gas market and the legal
benefits of consumers and enterprises," said Tu.
Under the new regulation, each gas agency could only register
three trademarks while major gas trading companies will have to take
responsibility for their trading activities, across the entire system. — VNS