March 10, 2009
Vietnam to crack down fake fertiliser producers
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Vietnam has urged localities to catch producers of fake fertiliser products.
The ministry said that violators, including makers of fertilisers and animal feed, would be strictly punished in line with the law.
Delegates at the seminar agreed that weak punishments would encourage businesses to disregard the laws in order to make as much profit as possible.
A fine of VND20 million (US$1,170) will be given for violators.
Pham Khac Dien, chief inspector of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said the monetary penalty isn''t enough and that the government should create stringent punishment for it.
Nguyen Ngoc Khoa, chairman of the Hanoi Anti-Counterfeiting and Trademark Protection Association, pointed to the need for authorised agencies to closely work with producers to make the prevention and control of fake and low-quality products more effective.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry ministry estimated that fertiliser demand in 2009 could reach 7.8 million tonnes and imports at 3.5 million tonnes, thus creating more opportunities for fake and low-quality fertiliser products to enter into the market.
According to the ministry''s market watch department, around 20 to 30 percent of fertilisers sold in the market are fake.
The Vietnam Fertiliser Association has also discovered nearly 60 businesses producing fake fertiliser products, which are sold to farmers nationwide, particularly in remote and mountainous areas.