Tuesday, June 23, 2009

LACK OF POLICY SLOWS COUNTERFEIT FIGHT

15th March, 2009

The lack of a Government policy has continued to negatively affect the fight against counterfeit, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati has said.
To this effect the Government is already working on the policies on competition, consumer protection and the intellectual property and had developed appropriate legal and institutional frameworks. The measures are aimed at facilitating the effective provision of goods and services to consumers, to enhance socio-economic developments.

Mutati was speaking when he officiated at the commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day held in Lusaka March 14, 2009 under the theme “Reject Counterfeit Products – Cheap is Expensive”. He said in order for the consumer regulatory agencies to perform effectively, they needed to be guided by a written Government Policy.

Mutati bemoaned that a lot of cheap imitations of well-known brands had flooded the local market, which was posing an unfair competition to the local industry. He said following the liberalization of the economy, the number of counterfeit products had steadily increased because of free flow of trade, adding that free markets were not perfect and deprived customers of an opportunity to get genuine products.

He said counterfeits created unfair trade as consumer welfare was compromised due to the presence of inferior goods, which were not only uneconomical, but also unhealthy and dangerous.

“Free markets are not perfect and consumer welfare may be compromised due to the presence of inferior goods as well as anti-competitive trade practices in the economy. Government had in this regard established regulatory agencies, to safeguard both consumers and suppliers,” he said.

He said his ministry with the ninth European Development Fund was working at strengthening some regulatory agencies in Zambia and had acquired equipment for Zambia Bureau of standards (ZABS) and the Zambia Weights and Measures Agency (ZWMA) to enhance their operations.

And Consumer Unit Trust Board member Anthony Kasolo said the presence of counterfeit products had continued to pose health dangers on the consumers and there was need for the ZABS to be proactive in the manner it fights the vice.

“Instead of just relying on information before they act the ZABS is supposed to be involved in the importation of goods from the source and track them even as they enter the country as a way of ensuring that only genuine products are sold to the consumers,” Mr. Kasolo said.
Sunday Times of Zambia

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