Crackdown On Bogus Foods, Cosmetics

[george]

Bogus cosmetics, foods face crackdown

By Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Published on November 2, 2010

BANGKOK: -- The government has vowed to crack down on counterfeit cosmetics and foods after finding that the sale of such products is widespread in the Kingdom, creating a health hazard as well as major losses for the economy.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said the ministry and concerned government agencies would join forces with private enterprises to suppress the dis�tribution and manufacture of counterfeit cosmetics.

"Many fake cosmetic products have been found, and the trend is increasing gradually, as they have high value and many brandname goods are popular among con�sumers," he said, adding that buyers should be concerned not only with low prices, but with their health.

The Intellectual Property Department reported 74 cases of counterfeit cosmetics in the first 10 months of this year creating a loss of Bt65.47 million to the industry, and 152,285 items were seized. Every kind of brandname cosmetics was copied including creams, face powder, eye shadow, brushon, perfume, and lipstick.

Also, 437,147 fake food and other essential products were seized, worth Bt5.5 million in losses to legitimate industry. These goods included alcohol, seasoning sauce, coffee, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, and beverages.

The government found that fake products are being sold in markets, shopping malls, convenience stores, servicestation shops, and border shopping areas.

The government will suppress not just the distribution of counterfeit cosmetics, but also trademark violations. The sale of fake cosmetics not only costs the country billions of baht a year but adversely affects consumers' health, Alongkorn warned.

Besides taking the violators to the court, the government will investi�gate suspect company's balance sheets and tariff payments to see whether they have breached any laws.

Alongkorn said the government would also ask for those countries that are sources of counterfeit products to shut down bogus manufacturers urgently.

He said most fake cosmetics were produced in other countries and imported into Thailand. The counterfeiters copied every aspect of the products, including packaging and trademarks. The fake products are much cheaper than the original products.

Mala Tangprasert, managing director of Selective Trademark Union (Thailand), a distributor of brandname goods, said trademark owners not only lost revenue because of fake goods, but suffered damage to their companies' image.

"Normally, fake products are sold at only 30 per cent of the real prod�ucts' prices, while brandname goods are subject to 40percent import tariffs and 7 per cent VAT, making them even more expensive," she pointed out.

Consumers should be cautious when buying cosmetics as counterfeit goods can cause health problems, Mala said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-02

[sirchai]

The Intellectual Property Department reported 74 cases of counterfeit cosmetics in the first 10 months of this year creating a loss of Bt65.47 million to the industry, and 152,285 items were seized. Every kind of brandname cosmetics was copied including creams, face powder, eye shadow, brushon, perfume, and lipstick.

Why don't they write that China, who's got the most power in the Kingdom of Thailand is copying almost everything?

An easy way to turn into a capitalist//////////// :jap:

[TheBrit]

Sounds like, someone has bought a big share in a Cosmetic Company and is now going to crack down on the illegal sales. Although, why they only crack down on the sellers and not the makers is beyond me...

The losses they post (like everyone else around the world DVD's CD's etc) is always hilarious. People wouldn't buy the original that is why they buy copies.

Good luck Thailand, come over to Phuket if you really want to start cracking down on illegal things

TB

[jayjay0]

The Intellectual Property Department reported 74 cases of counterfeit cosmetics in the first 10 months of this year creating a loss of Bt65.47 million to the industry, and 152,285 items were seized. Every kind of brandname cosmetics was copied including creams, face powder, eye shadow, brushon, perfume, and lipstick.

Why don't they write that China, who's got the most power in the Kingdom of Thailand is copying almost everything?

An easy way to turn into a capitalist//////////// :jap:

Are you saying that is bogus tooth paste I am using :cheesy: My God my teeth are going to fall out. And that bogus watermelon where will it end.

[james24]

fake food..? wyf..?

what fake food..?

[Stump]

Fakes have become a major problem round the world.All the multi national companies who set up in China are sure to have a fake copy company set up as well.cambodia is fast become the place to set up fake sweat shops with close access to Thailand.Medical fakes packed as good as the real thing are available over the net from China and have been found sold in Boots chemist in London.Fake drugs like malaria tablets and insulin are killing people round the world .Its out of control and a worry.

Eamonn Australia

[Stump]

fake food..? wyf..?

what fake food..?

Check this out!!!!!

[james24]

fake food..? wyf..?

what fake food..?

Check this out!!!!!

oh my god

[asiawatcher]

fake food..? wyf..?

what fake food..?

Check this out!!!!!

[cdnvic]

I'm used to eggs being cheap and plentiful. Never imagined they would be counterfeited.

[Tokay]

I was bout to comment about FAKE FOOD until I saw that Youtube clip of the fake eggs.

<deleted>!

[cdnvic]

I suspect a hoax, chickens work cheaper than chemists.

[CMFarang]

Come on now, let's get real.

We know we are buying fakes ( I hope ), if not , well they should take away your wallet.

I have a Company, and Trademark , that is being used by a LARGER US company and I have been to court to the extent of $37,000, 100's of hours and the case continues.. I had to stop , I could not afford to fight the Corporation who wanted to use my Brand Name because they wanted to.

They have not tried to stop me from using my Brand, Thank Buddha...

SO why is it the police take care of these Big Corporations but the Courts and Lawyers SH*T on us little guys.

Buy Fakes , Screw the system that is set up for profit, can buy and sell governments, pays us pennies if they can and treats us like children.

Ranting done.

Back to work for an honest dollar , while others profit on my name and ideas..

[Familyonthemove]

I suspect a hoax, chickens work cheaper than chemists.

Not a hoax ... amazingly there have been several cases of fake eggs in China. And let's not forget melamine in milk. Though I reckon any fake food in Thailand will be branded products as that's where the real value addition will be.

But if a manufacturer can make a passable fake product - surely they should be making private brands products or launch their own brands .... must be a better bet in the long run?

Edited November 2, 2010 by Familyonthemove

[bangon04]

I suspect a hoax, chickens work cheaper than chemists.

Not a hoax ... amazingly there have been several cases of fake eggs in China. And let's not forget melamine in milk. Though I reckon any fake food in Thailand will be branded products as that's where the real value addition will be.

But if a manufacturer can make a passable fake product - surely they should be making private brands products or launch their own brands .... must be a better bet in the long run?

I notice that every second stall on lower Sukhumvit is now selling Viagra etc . Is this just because they have been stopped from selling X rated DVDs, or are they now selling a new bigger source of fake meds altogether? Any guesses as to how dangerous these are?

[elshaheen]

Bogus cosmetics, foods face crackdown.

Sorry, this has to be the most stupid thing to do, what are they going to think of next. Fake condoms. Fake whisky, fake people.

[Bagwan]

Anybody that rips off the cosmetic industry has my full support. The ratio between production costs and selling costs is even greater that that for golf equipment.  In some cases the packaging costs more to produce that the product. Shameless purveyors of dreams to gullible people. 

[featography]

Fakes have become a major problem round the world.All the multi national companies who set up in China are sure to have a fake copy company set up as well.cambodia is fast become the place to set up fake sweat shops with close access to Thailand.Medical fakes packed as good as the real thing are available over the net from China and have been found sold in Boots chemist in London.Fake drugs like malaria tablets and insulin are killing people round the world .Its out of control and a worry.

Eamonn Australia

One such item is the fake Viagra that is found in many reputable pharmacies. The only way to tell the difference is the real McCoy is blue all the way thru it. The fake is only blue on the outside. My wife turned down a "distributor" that was offering her a greatly discounted Viagra. She cut it open and found it white inside. BTW, she is the owner operator of a medicine shop.

[witsawakorn]

Sounds like, someone has bought a big share in a Cosmetic Company and is now going to crack down on the illegal sales. Although, why they only crack down on the sellers and not the makers is beyond me...

The losses they post (like everyone else around the world DVD's CD's etc) is always hilarious. People wouldn't buy the original that is why they buy copies.

Good luck Thailand, come over to Phuket if you really want to start cracking down on illegal things

TB

It's a bit hard to crack down on the makers if they are overseas isn't it?

[jayjay0]

fake food..? wyf..?

what fake food..?

Check this out!!!!!

That is not what I would call a egg. More like a joke.

[Beetlejuice]

I suspected there was something wrong with those cosmetics, no wonder my girlfriend`s face is such a mess.

Edited November 2, 2010 by Beetlejuice