VietNamNet Bridge – A Government decree takes force today stating that people violating manufacturing laws by producing and trading counterfeit goods will be subject to severe fines.

Police officers in the central province of Quang Tri record counterfeit goods that were seized during the Tet holidays. Criminals involved in counterfeit goods will be strictly punished under new regulations that take effect this month.

Under the new law, violators will receive a fine of up to VND100 million (US$4,700) for illegally manufacturing fake goods, while people involved in the trade of these goods will have to pay up to VND70 million ($3,340).

Truong Quang Hoai Nam, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Market Watch Department, said that the decree was issued in an attempt to curb a problem that has existed for years.

The old regulations were inconsistent and ineffective as they failed to classify the different types of counterfeit goods. The new decree clearly regulates all the various categories in order to allow agencies to easily deal with violations, Nam said.

The manufacturing and trading of counterfeit goods has a negative impact on both human health and the local business environment, he added.

Do Thi Quyen of Ha Noi’s Thanh Xuan District said that customers would prefer to buy authentic and quality goods, even if the price is higher.

She said that therefore the public expected authorities to effectively stop the trade of low-quality and deceptive products.

Nguyen Thanh Tuan, of HCM City’s District 1, said that the reputations of businesses were negatively affected due to the circulation of products that had been illegally faked.

Source: VNS