SME Times News Bureau | 10 Apr, 2021
FICCI CASCADE (Committee against Smuggling
and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) jointly with The
Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT), recently issued a
statement warning consumers about the risks and growing availability of fake,
falsified and substandard medical, healthcare and other products.
Both organizations, known for mitigating
illicit trade across industry sectors worldwide, reports a surge in
ineffective, fraudulent products that undermine public health and efforts to
stem the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE
said, "Arresting the sale of illicit goods at the time of this
unprecedented crisis needs our immediate and unwavering attention. It is well
known that illicit trade exacerbates unemployment, bleeds the economy and
causes tremendous harm to the health and safety of the people. The current
situation which is already witnessing a severe socio-economic distress, sale of
fake and smuggled goods will only worsen the problem. Stern actions should be
taken to see that criminals do not profit from this pandemic by selling illicit
products."
Jeffrey Hardy, Director-General, TRACIT
said, "mergency response measures to protect people from the COVID-19
virus must include the urgent need to protect them from fake, falsified and
substandard medical products and medicines. Someone wearing a falsified or
substandard surgical face mask is not only at risk of exposure, but it creates
a false sense of security that can actually accelerate the spread to
others.
Worldwide reports indicate an increase in
the availability and type of fraudulent medical products intended to exploit
the fears of consumers, which includes illicit offerings of falsified versions
of treatments such as Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin that will harm or
kill already vulnerable patients. Joint operations by the World Customs
Organization, Europol and Interpol have resulted in asignificant increase in
seizures of counterfeit and unauthorized face masks and hand sanitizers.
"Expectations are that the availability
of fakes and fraudulent products on the Internet will increase dramatically,
especially with the closure of retail stores and the imposition of population
distancing strategies," said Mr Hardy.
"People must be especially careful with
the social media, where outright fraud and advertising of fakes is already a
major problem," he added.
While the Indian government is continuously
intensifying efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus by enacting
various measures to support public health systems, safeguard the economy and
ensure the safety of its citizens, illegal operators are taking full advantage
of the pandemic. It is evident that they will use shortages in the supply of
some goods to increasingly provide illicit alternatives such as food and
grocery items, medicines, sanitary and medical products, indoor sports
equipment, cigarettes, liquor etc., both online and offline.
In the long run, FICCI CASCADE and TRACIT
expressed concern that the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgent need for a
strong international policy framework to combat the illicit trade of fake,
falsified and substandard medical products and medicines.