Share product info, says Towe

PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) Customs is urging businesses and individuals to share product information or trademarks with them to assist in detecting counterfeit products at the country’s entry points.
Chief commissioner David Towe said it was important for importers to advise PNG Customs of their trade marks.
Noting recent amendments to the Customs Act, he said they want to discourage importers from bringing in counterfeit products.
Those found guilty of importing counterfeit products will be fined as much as K1.5 million or face up to 20 years imprisonment as of Jan 1.
Towe said: “Registering of trademarks is very important.
“If importers present their trademarks, we (Customs) can act on their behalf to stop any counterfeits.
“People can register their product with Investment Promotion Authority but the same information has to be shared with us.
“If a particular good is imported and we detect it at the border, we can only act upon it if we have the trademark with us.”
According to the Supplementary Budget, PNG Customs was expected to collect K1.97 billion in revenue this year.
“We are currently tracking (collected) at 87 per cent of the K1.97 billion,” Towe said.
He said PNG Customs would set up a container examination facility at the Lae Port in Morobe.
A similar facility built at a cost of about K50 million at Motukea, Port Moresby, helped cut down the amount of time spent by Customs officers to do manual checks on containers.