German speciality glass manufacturer SCHOTT AG on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Market Surveillance (DMS) that aims to promote cooperation in eradicating counterfeits and exercising intellectual property (IP) rights of SCHOTT AG brands in Viet Nam.

To mitigate this issue, DMS and SCHOTT AG have agreed to strengthen collaboration between the two parties in combatting fake and IP infringing products, consumer protection and raising awareness on genuine and counterfeit products.

SCHOTT AG will support enhancing the robust technical foundation for DMS officials and its partners to execute fake product raids effectively and responsively through activities such as technical workshops, training sessions and official raids.

The collaboration between DMS and SCHOTT AG is set to protect Vietnamese consumers who might be misguided into buying low-quality, non-genuine products bearing the SCHOTT CERAN brand name.

At the signing ceremony, Tran Huu Linh, Director General of Viet Nam Directorate of Market Surveillance, said that fake products were rampant in Viet Nam, especially counterfeit products bearing big brand names such as SCHOTT CERAN.

“To mitigate these threats and protect the rights of Vietnamese consumers, DMS is actively working with relevant law enforcement agencies in inspection activities aimed at dismantling counterfeit operations and hold individuals involved in them accountable," he said. "However, it is challenging for DMS staff to identify fake products and take appropriate actions without strong collaboration between DMS and the brand owner. The partnership between DMS and major brand owners will help enforcement agencies to crack down the unscrupulous vendors of fake products in an effective and timely manner and protect Vietnamese consumers.”

Simon Kreye, Deputy Head of Mission, Head of the Economic Department of the German Embassy in Ha Noi, said: "I am very pleased to witness the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding between SCHOTT AG and the DMS. This is a significant step in strengthening the cooperation and trust between our two countries in intellectual property protection and consumer safety.

"Fake products not only harm the reputation and innovation of legitimate businesses but also pose serious risks to the health and well-being of the general public. By working together to combat this illegal activity, we can create a fair and transparent market environment that benefits both our economies and societies."

Katja Dybowski, Director Sales CERAN ASIA at SCHOTT AG, said: “Due to poor mechanical and acid resistance, fake panels have a worse thermal resistance, and are more prone to wear and tear resulting in unstable performance and a significantly shorter product lifespan. At SCHOTT AG, we are committed to working closely with DMS and other Vietnamese authorities to combat fake products and the associated health, mechanical and fire safety risks it poses to Vietnamese consumers."

The production and trafficking of counterfeit goods continue to be a pressing issue for consumers at both global and local levels. According to data from the Global Trade in Fakes report by the OECD and EUIPO, trading with counterfeit goods amounted to roughly US$449 billion and 2.5 per cent of global trade in 2019.

Fake products and IP infringements not only pose significant health and safety threat to consumers but also impact the economic growth of legitimate businesses and consumers through lost revenue, downtime, and replacement costs. — VNS