How to stop the problem of rampant counterfeit cosmetics?

The problem of counterfeit cosmetics is still threatening the health of people. Photo: Hai Ngoc

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dong, CEO of Hoa Lan Cosmetics Joint Stock Company said that, there are many counterfeit products in the market. This is really dangerous as it seriously affects consumers’ health.

Especially, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huong Lien, Vice Managing Director of Sao Thai Duong Joint Stock Company, said that besides counterfeit cosmetics, handmade cosmetics are now flourishing thanks to the trend of online sales. Handmade cosmetics are usually made in small facilities with small laboratories so the control of microorganisms, humidity, air,... will absolutely not be good as the producers that are equipped with advanced technical facilities. Therefore, the price will certainly be cheaper, being able to unfairly compete with products from large firms with high factory investment, quality management, personnel,... This is a barrier for companies that dare to build up products in a conventional way.

Talking about the above difficulties of business, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, vice president cum general secretary of the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association, said that counterfeit and imitation producers can make high profits easily. So many organizations and individuals try many tricks to produce them. In addition, due to the consumer's psychological want for low prices, it also gives counterfeit, imitation goods a market. Therefore, state management authorities should take measures to control and select the products before allowing them into market.

Furthermore, Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, head of cosmetic division, Drug Administration, Ministry of Health, said that the policy related to cosmetics is also open and facilitates businesses. Accordingly, in order to operate, enterprises only need to announce to state management authorities that they will introduce products to the market and commit to have no banned substances.

Loi said that creating such a ventilation system always has the wrong effects. Specifically, the Drug Administration has carried out many inspections with teams in the market, basically businesses have grasped the regulations of the state but still make many mistakes in management, such as the formula in the cosmetics is incorrect, not in accordance with the registration to the management authorities, not in the place for production, etc.

Moreover, Mr. Tran Hung, Deputy Director of the Market Management Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that there should be strong measures to protect consumers and deter enterprises form counterfeiting. In fact, the rich are people who go aboard to purchase goods, they are less likely to buy counterfeit goods. Meanwhile, the poor are the most affected, the women in rural areas consume large quantities of cheap goods. According to Mr. Hung, it is necessary to improve the protection role for the commune.

On the side of enterprises, according to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huong Lien, enterprises must take responsibility for product development, formulation, production process control, raw materials and human resources for production, after sales and customer services.

"The reality is that many businesses in the cosmetic industry are still ambiguous about this responsibility. So to do well, I think that businesses must be trained, self-learn, update instructions, to then introduce quality products to the market," Mrs. Lien said.