Thailand cracks down on counterfeit engine parts and shampoos

[snoop1130]

 

Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property teamed up with the Economic Crime Suppression Division and representatives from several companies to crack down on counterfeit engine parts and shampoos. Officials seized 12,183 items, worth over 10 million baht, in an operation aimed at protecting consumers from dangerous, substandard products.

 

Arwut Wongsawat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, revealed the collaborative effort. They partnered with the Economic Crime Suppression Division, rights holders, and authorised representatives from companies such as Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. and The Procter & Gamble Company Ltd.

 

The joint operation was meticulously planned to address the issue of counterfeit goods, which posed significant risks to consumers. The seized items included fake engine parts and counterfeit shampoos bearing several trademarked brands. Police estimated the total damage at over 10 million baht.

 

The department has continually prioritised the prevention and suppression of intellectual property violations, particularly those involving everyday consumer goods. Counterfeit products of this nature often fail to meet safety standards and may contain harmful chemicals, posing serious health risks to consumers.

 

Enforcing the law against offenders is crucial in combating intellectual property violations. Beyond legal measures, the department is also focused on raising awareness among businesses about the importance of selling legitimate products. This dual approach aims to reduce the circulation of counterfeit goods in the market and safeguard consumers from the dangers associated with substandard products.

 

“The joint operation stemmed from the discovery of fake shampoos made by refilling branded shampoo bottles with homemade chemical mixtures and selling them at lower prices. Additionally, counterfeit engine parts, such as bearings, piston rods, crankshaft pins, oil filters, and air filters, were distributed to auto parts dealers nationwide.”

 

The operation confiscated 12,183 items, accumulating losses worth over 10 million baht.

 

Consumer protection

 

These counterfeit items, although similar in appearance to genuine products, do not meet safety standards and are extremely hazardous to consumers. Police urge consumers to exercise caution when purchasing low-priced goods, as they may present unforeseen dangers.

 

Consumers should buy products from reputable sources, inspect the packaging for quality, and avoid items priced significantly below market value.

 

The penalties for selling counterfeit trademarked goods are severe, with offenders facing up to four years in prison, fines up to 400,000 baht, or both. For selling copyright-infringing goods, the maximum penalty is four years in prison, or fines up to 800,000 baht, or both.

 

The public is encouraged to report any discoveries of counterfeit goods through the Department of Intellectual Property’s website or hotline, reported KhaoSod.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-07

 

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[Gknrd]

Kinda funny, Last time I was in the US I needed parts for my Tundra. I ordered off of e-bay. With the sign of trusted original OEM parts. Turned out to be a Chinese company with an office in the US. Making fake parts and fake packaging . Looked impressive. Took it down the the local Toyota dealer to see the difference and it was massive.  Junk auto parts from China is a real problem.

Edited August 7 by Gknrd

[Wrwest]

Pray tell, the origin of these fake products?

[watchcat]

7 hours ago, Wrwest said:

Pray tell, the origin of these fake products?

 

He mentioned "Junk auto parts from China" and that's what they are.

[SAFETY FIRST]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

counterfeit shampoos

Who would have thought that there's money in fake shampoo.

 

Strange people who would do that for a few baht. 

 

Edited August 7 by SAFETY FIRST

[watchcat]

34 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Who would have thought that there's money in fake shampoo.

 

Strange people who would do that for a few baht. 

 

 

They are mostly women....

[Gsxrnz]

I'm no genius, but dividing 10M by 12,183 items means the average price per unit is 820 Baht. 

 

That makes the fake shampoo a tad expensive for my taste. Not that I've got much hair - a 500ml family bottle will probably see me to the end of my days.

 

Maybe there were a few fake big-ticket items to skew the average price, such as small bottles of designer serum that my missus buys - which I reckon are worth more by weight than gold. 

[CallumWK]

I think I posted this in another thread recently, because I got the t-shirt. If you see a "genuine" car part on Shopee or Lazada, which is more than 10% cheaper than at the dealer, then you will 100% have a counterfeit part.

 

And that is not limited to just car parts, but in my estimate, 90% of goods sold on those online platforms that have a well known brandname are counterfeit.

Edited August 8 by CallumWK

[fondue zoo]

Bundled together?

[stupidfarang]

car parts from authorised car dealers in Thailand are cheap compared to the UK plus labour cost is very low.