At a seminar on combating counterfeit goods on e-commerce held on 18/12, Nguyen Van Thanh, Head of Policy Department, E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), identified consumer behavior as a significant challenge in the current fight against counterfeit products.

"Many consumers are aware they are buying counterfeit items, yet they proceed with the purchase due to the lower price," he stated.

Tran Huu Linh, Director General of the Domestic Market Management and Development Agency, MOIT, echoed this sentiment, noting that consumer complicity with counterfeit and knock-off products significantly complicates efforts to combat and prevent violations. He emphasized the need to enhance awareness among both buyers and sellers, fostering a preference for quality domestic products.

Consumers hunting for discounted products via livestream. Photo: Ngoc Diem.

Data from the MOIT reveals that in the first half of this year, the E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency, in collaboration with relevant bodies, instructed platforms to review and remove more than 34,600 products and block over 11,500 non-compliant vendors.

Nguyen Van Thanh further explained that fraudulent and counterfeit goods, along with intellectual property infringements, are widespread. Beyond consumer awareness, he stressed the crucial role of e-commerce platforms in managing the products sold on their sites.

He cited current regulations which mandate that platform owners and operators must remove infringing information and content within 24 hours of detection or a request from authorities. Platforms are also responsible for providing, storing, and reporting transaction-related data.

However, he argued that existing regulations are insufficient to fully tackle the issue of counterfeit goods online. "Strong, coordinated, and continuous action from regulatory agencies, platforms, sellers, and consumers is essential," Thanh asserted.

Proactively removing infringing products and implementing upfront content control will foster a healthier e-commerce market, safeguard consumer rights, and ensure the sustainable growth of the digital business landscape.

From a market management perspective, Director General Tran Huu Linh highlighted that the e-commerce law includes stricter provisions, mandating clear identification for organizations and individuals selling on platforms. This measure enables authorities to trace violations. Penalties are also under review to ensure they are robust enough to deter illicit activities.

"The MOIT is developing new management tools, which will require certain high-risk product categories, particularly those with elevated risks, to declare and trace their origins," Linh stated.

Furthermore, the regulatory body plans to establish early warning systems for fraudulent activities on e-commerce platforms, alongside increasing inspections. The objective is to empower consumers and businesses to proactively identify and report violations, thereby streamlining enforcement efforts by authorities.

Phuong Dung