Coronavirus: Beware of counterfeit products flooding, industry warns Centre

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 7

An industry chamber has raised the flag on the flooding of the market with fake and substandard products after the coronavirus epidemic and has asked the government to prioritise a response to the fraud.

In this regard, it cited the busts by World Customs Organisation, Europol and Interpol of significant quantities of counterfeit and unauthorised face masks and hand sanitisers. These organisations have reported a surge in ineffective, fraudulent products that undermine public health and efforts to stem the coronavirus pandemic.

“Now that Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Azithromycin are being touted as wonder cures, fake offerings will harm or kill already vulnerable patients,” FICCI’s CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy), which has worked on this issue with The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT).

“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 TRACIT Director-General Jeffrey Hardy.

Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE wanted Internet ecommerce platforms to amplify policing and takedown of online sales of counterfeit and fraudulent COVID-19 related products. He said brand owners too should increase the security of supply chains for genuine coronavirus-related medical products and medicines, share data with law enforcement where supply chains have been compromised and raise awareness about online shopping fraud.