MoIT launches sites to deal with e-commerce disputes, counterfeit goods (18 December 2019)

Counterfeit goods have always been a major concern in Việt Nam. Whether it's fashion items, electronic equipment, or even medicine, the problem of authenticity is often an issue.

But now the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is fighting back – launching three websites to help consumers resolve disputes.

“The e-commerce market is growing in Việt Nam, but it is also used to trade counterfeit goods with increasingly sophisticated activities online,” said Deputy Minister Cao Quốc Hưng.

“The MoIT opens the portals to fight against and prevent such issues in e-commerce, creating trust for consumers.”

The portals including a website for managing and monitoring e-commerce exchanges at Online.gov.vn, a website for reporting disputes in e-commerce at chonghanggia.online.gov.vn and a website for reporting on e-commerce activities of businesses at baocao.online.gov.vn

Hưng also said his ministry has issued a plan to strengthen the fight against counterfeit goods, unidentified goods and goods that infringe intellectual property rights in e-commerce, and the portals are part of the plan.

The portals will connect and share information between the ministry and the relevant offices, such as the Department of Electronic Commerce and Digital Economy, the General Department of Market Management, Department of Competition and the Consumer Protection Department.

They also manage and solve complaints and disputes for consumers.

Earlier in April, MoIT signed commitments with adayroi.com, lazada.vn, shopee.vn, sendo.vn and tiki.vn to ensure fake goods are not sold online.

According to Statista.com, a global portal that researches and analyses market and consumer behaviour, revenue in the e-commerce market in Việt Nam was US$2.963 billion in 2019 and is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2019-2024) of 8.5 per cent, resulting in a market volume of $4.452 billion by 2024.

While Statista identifies the market's largest segment as fashion with a market volume of $717 million in 2019, many online consumers consider fashion as one of the areas with the most counterfeit products.

(Source: VNS)