Chamber supports ban on counterfeit products

LAE Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) supports the banning and prevention counterfeit products imported into the country or manufactured locally.
President John Byrne said LCCI would support the PNG Manufacturers Council and PNGCCI to work with the responsible State agencies to take action against any companies and individuals responsible for the importation and manufacture of counterfeit products.
“LCCI supports any activity which bans and precludes counterfeit or pseudo-products,” Byrne said.
“We endorse all agencies in enforcing sanctions, fines and penalties on any organisation which imports any of these products and or sells them.
“The penalty should be considerable, not just a slap on the wrist.
“Equally, any government official who engages in an activity which is an ‘enabler’ to the import of these products also must be penalised.”
Byrne was speaking in support of PNG Customs Services (PNGCS) efforts in monitoring counterfeit goods entering the country as well as locally-manufactured goods that infringed on intellectual property rights and trademarks of rights holders (companies).
“It affects our economy and law-abiding, tax-paying importers of allowing counterfeit products to be imported and sold are loss of sales, potential inferior quality of the product, less tax being paid to the Government which lessens essential infrastructure works, and potential loss of employment for PNG citizens.”
PNGCS director intellectual property rights and passenger policy Tom Vere said the issue affected commercial trade regulatory and compliance systems infringing set standards of right holders that manufacture locally as well distributors that import and sell locally.
Besides risking users and consumers health and safety.
“The onus is on right holders now to approach regulatory agencies to assist them enforce the laws in partnership,” Vere said.
“Government regulatory agencies have demarcations in enforcing policies therefore we need a holistic approach from concerned government agencies, companies and consumers.”
Vere described counterfeit issue as akin to “tree roots” sprouting everywhere in country and PNGCS could not do it alone to protect border while prevent counterfeit, pirated and substandard goods entering country.