Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 23 chaired a national teleconference to review the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property rights infringement in the first half of 2025 and conclude the peak combat campaign.

In his opening remarks, PM Chinh emphasised that over the past month, various forces, especially the police, military, coast guard, and market surveillance agencies, have simultaneously launched operations, continuously investigating and dismantling numerous serious and particularly serious cases, especially those involving the production and trade of counterfeit goods such as milk, medicine, food, medical equipment, and products suspected of infringing on well-known trademarks, as well as the production and sale of prohibited items.

Commending the forces, particularly the police, for working with great responsibility and uncovering many cases related to counterfeit and fake goods, the Government leader noted that despite the peak campaign, the situation involving these acts remains highly complex.

The current state of counterfeit and fake goods, smuggling, and trade fraud is causing public concern and anxiety, negatively affecting the health, rights, and legitimate interests of consumers, he stressed.

He mentioned poor control, lax management, lack of responsibility, unclear delineation of functions and duties, and ineffective coordination between agencies as the main reasons to the problem.

The PM emphasised that this issue becomes especially serious when it involves counterfeit medicine and food, as it directly affects the health and lives of the people.

He requested delegates to provide objective and honest feedback on what has been achieved, what has not, the consequences, and draw lessons learned for the future. He also emphasised the need to identify key directions and tasks, with a firm resolve to prevent, and eventually eliminate the trafficking of counterfeit medicines and fake food products.

ꦬ He highlighted the importance of building a robust legal framework, upholding the responsibility of all levels and sectors, and ensuring that businesses take responsibility in disseminations so that the public can actively participate in this effort./.