The government has appealed to citizens to report cases of counterfeit products.
Meach Sophanna, president of the interior ministry’s Counter-Counterfeit Committee, said smuggling and production of fake drugs, cosmetics, beverages, and food, posed a serious risk to health and safety.
“The people, consumers, as well as companies that import original products, should cooperate with the committee if they have any information,” he said.
“We will make efforts and have a strong commitment to benefit the people, the consumers, to manufacturers, as well as the businesspeople, to give them the opportunity to run a successful business by not allowing counterfeit products to undermine original ones,” he added.
“When we eat counterfeit food, we feel nauseous and dizzy. When we apply fake cosmetics, we get rashes and allergies. These are considered as short-term effects. For long-term effects, it could harm our kidneys and liver, and eventually cause cancer, another unknown disease, or even a cerebral cyst.”
According to official figures, the committee has confiscated some 200 tons of fake products.
Sar Mora, head of the Federation of Food and Service, said the industry welcomed further efforts to stop counterfeiting in the country.
“The high frequency of this issue occurring could be due to corruption or other issues. Also, law enforcement towards offenders is still restricted. They might get arrested, but sooner or later, they will be set free without sentencing. So counterfeiting of products persists,” he said.
