Following a five-year transformation of its vertical operating model, the Ninh Thuan Market Surveillance Agency has demonstrated strong and professional growth. It has established itself as a key player in combating counterfeit goods, smuggling and trade fraud. The agency’s efforts have had a positive impression on both the public and the business community.
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In response to the policy that the market watchdog is a specialized force of the State, managed uniformly, centrally from central to local levels, Ninh Thuan Market Surveillance Agency was established from the restructuring of Ninh Thuan Market Surveillance Team on October 11, 2018 according to Decision 3685/QD-BCT of the Ministry Industry and Trade.
Mr. Tran Kieu Hung, Director of the Ninh Thuan Market Surveillance Agency, said: After being operated under the new vertical model, the market watchdog has reformed its organizational structure, improved its capacity and professional qualifications, modes of operation, especially strongly developing information technology for market surveillance and control, to fight and prevent counterfeit goods, contraband goods and trade frauds to stabilize the market in the new context.
The Ninh Thuan Market Surveillance Agency closely follows directions of the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance, the Provincial People's Committee and the Steering Committee 389 of Ninh Thuan province and bases on market situations to introduce effective activities to combat and ward off counterfeit goods, contraband goods and trade fraud. With its effective activities, many cases of trade fraudulence, counterfeiting and intellectual property infringement were discovered and promptly handled under the law.
According to statistical data since 2018, the Ninh Thuan Market Surveillance Agency has conducted 4,455 inspections, sanctioned 882 administrative cases, collected VND5.5 billion for the State budget, and seized a large volume of goods, including counterfeit cosmetics, shampoo, toys, electronic devices and smuggled cigarettes. The value of confiscated goods was estimated at nearly VND2.7 billion. In particular, many complicated violations have been directed, detected, prevented and handled promptly to protect legitimate rights and interests of businesses and consumers and strengthen socioeconomic development.
Remarking on key solutions and tasks in the coming time, Director Hung said, the Ninh Thuan Market Surveillance Agency will continue to enhance the sense of responsibility and work performance, especially of unit leaders; resolutely pursue the fight against counterfeit goods, smuggled goods and trade frauds; and encourage and promptly reward groups and individuals with good work achievements.
In addition, the agency will focus on locational management, especially in Phan Rang - Thap Cham City, wholesale markets, warehouses of businesses and distributors, and freight gathering and transit points; probe into vehicles transporting goods on National Highway 1A from central provinces and southwest border provinces into the mainland; inspect food safety and hygiene at food manufacturers, restaurants, eateries, entertainment venues and traders to ensure quality. The agency also makes sure that traders must clearly quote prices and sell at such prices to make tourists and visitors feel assured with clearly quoted prices and product quality.
At the same time, the market watchdog will closely coordinate with local authorities to perform public duties; actively work with businesses and associations to capture information about counterfeit goods and intellectual property infringements and provide support in inspection, control, verification and settlement; and protect legitimate rights and interests of businesses. In addition, it will combine inspection and control activities with law communications and information and encourage companies to sign commitments not to produce or trade smuggled goods, banned goods or counterfeit goods in a bid to raise the perception and sense of law observance among business organizations, individuals and consumers.
By Bui Lien, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi