Strong actions to stop and punish violations

In recent months, relevant agencies have ramped up public communication and legal education, while tightening inspections to prevent violations and restore order in local business activities. Following the nationwide inspection campaign directed by the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee on combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, Điện Biên authorities noted that the province still faces complex and evolving challenges. Although many cases have been detected and handled, violators have become increasingly sophisticated in their tactics. Recognizing this, the market management forces continue to treat the fight against counterfeit goods as a regular, high-priority task that requires consistent and in-depth implementation.

As a mountainous border province with an unevenly educated population and a fragmented local market, Điện Biên has no large-scale industrial or processing zones. Most businesses are small or medium-sized, and goods are mainly transported from other provinces via passenger buses or trucks. Taking advantage of this situation, violators use various tricks to evade detection, such as breaking shipments into smaller loads, transporting during peak hours, and exploiting digital tools, telecommunications devices, social media platforms, and delivery services to avoid inspection, posing challenges for enforcement agencies.

Nguyễn Minh Cường, Acting Head of the provincial Market Management Department, said: “Following the directions of the central and provincial authorities, our department has instructed market management teams to maintain close monitoring in key areas, border zones, warehouses, trade centers, and major markets. We are strengthening inter-agency cooperation among market management forces, police, customs, border guards, and local authorities to form a united front that dismantles smuggling networks and production of counterfeit goods at the root. In parallel, we are intensifying communication campaigns to raise public and business awareness, creating a “defensive shield” that limits complicity in illegal trade.”

Communication efforts are not carried out as separate campaigns but integrated into inspection plans. Through these activities, many organizations and individuals have signed commitments not to trade in smuggled, counterfeit, or substandard goods or products violating intellectual property rights. Market management forces have also proactively monitored the market to identify emerging issues, hotspots, and new violation methods, enabling timely intervention or recommendations for higher-level action.

In the first nine months of this year, Điện Biên’s market management forces inspected over 1,000 cases, imposing administrative fines in more than 400 cases, with total penalties exceeding VND 1.4 billion. Goods worth nearly VND 110 million were destroyed, and another VND 30 million worth of seized items are awaiting further handling.

Protecting consumers’ rights

Counterfeit and imitation goods, from traditional markets to e-commerce platforms, not only worry consumers but also unsettle legitimate businesses and distributors who fear their reputations could be harmed if they inadvertently trade in fake products.

Nguyễn Thị Lan, owner of Nam Lan Trading and Services Co., Ltd. in Mường Thanh ward, said: “Recently, many large-scale counterfeit food and milk cases have been busted nationwide, which has negatively affected distributors. To protect consumers’ health, I only import goods from reputable companies. For imported products, I prioritize those with official product declarations and avoid unverified or untraceable sources.”

To safeguard consumers’ interests and prevent legal violations, the Market Management Team No.1 has closely followed provincial directives since early this year, conducting regular and thematic inspections. The team has focused on essential consumer goods, working closely with other forces to monitor, control, and promptly handle violations.

Meanwhile, the Market Management Team No.3 has concentrated on cracking down on smuggling, trade in banned goods, counterfeit production, and intellectual property violations, including online commerce and social media sales. Since the beginning of the year, the team has conducted 23 inspections and imposed administrative fines in 19 cases, totaling more than VND 145 million.

In one notable case, the team cooperated with the provincial Economic Police to inspect and fine a business for selling goods of unknown origin, destroying 250 packs of burnt rice, 45 packs of dried jackfruit, 45kg of fried dough sticks, 34kg of spicy nuts, and 25kg of spicy corn. They also coordinated on five cases involving trademark counterfeiting, confiscating and destroying 15 types of fake motorcycle spare parts.

Authorities predict that counterfeit activities will continue with more sophisticated tactics, especially toward the year’s end and the Lunar New Year (Tết) shopping season. To address this, the provincial Steering Committee 389 will maintain focused measures to combat smuggling, trade fraud, and fake goods, identifying new violation patterns and promptly addressing them.

At the same time, the province aims to strengthen the expertise, professionalism, and ethics of officials, ensuring no complicity or protection for violators. Communication and legal awareness campaigns will also continue, enhancing the responsibility of manufacturers and the vigilance of consumers.