Zimra incapacitated to stop smuggling — Industry
INDUSTRY has raised concern over the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (Zimra) capacity to stamp out smuggling at ports of entry, amid claims its officials were incapacitated to deal with of duty and rules of origin issues.
This came out at a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) roundtable briefing on business and economic matters in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
First to raise the issue was the Zimbabwe Textile Manufacturers’ Association vice-president, Freedom Dube, who said smugglers were declaring blankets as woven fabric to avoid paying duty, something Zimra officials were failing to detect.
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/10/14/zimra-incapacitated-stop-smuggling-industry/
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Rampant smuggling of banned goods blamed for Zimbabwe’s ailing industry
Despite attempts at curbing illegal trade, Zimbabwe’s government has said it is facing rampant smuggling of banned goods at its borders.
For years now, Zimbabwe’s government has been working at cracking down on smuggled goods, which President Robert Mugabe claims these products have killed manufacturing, the country’s once-vibrant industries.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rampant-smuggling-banned-goods-blamed-zimbabwes-ailing-industry-1586407
HoMAI re-launches as Authentication Solution Providers’ Association
Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI), which was founded sixteen years ago on December 1 1998 as the world’s second and Asia’s only Association representing holography, has now been re-launched this year with a broader mandate as Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA).
By helping to check counterfeiting, ASPA helps protect consumers, unlock revenue realization for brand owners and governments, as well as ensure steady growth of its members and the industry in general.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/homai-re-launches-as-authentication-solution-providers-association-114101401254_1.html
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P10-M worth fake cigarettes, goods seized in oro
BUREAU of Customs (BOC) officials from Northern Mindanao and from the office of Commissioner NicanorFaeldon confiscated fake imported tobacco products and other goods with an estimated value of P10 million in various warehouses during a series of raids in Cagayan de Oro, the agency said Wednesday, October 10.
Sonny Sarmiento, Customs technical assistant at the office of the Commissioner, said they received information that smuggled and counterfeit items have proliferated in the region, specifically in Cagayan de Oro.
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90% hike in smuggled cigarette consumption in India: FICCI
Consumption of smuggled cigarettes has increased by over 90 per cent, equivalent to 12.5-23.9 billion sticks, in the last 10 years in India, revealed a new report on Thursday.
The report released by business chamber FICCI also stated that 74 per cent of the smokers were willing to switch to cheaply-priced smuggled or illegal cigarettes due to higher taxation on legal cigarettes.
“Over 56 per cent smokers prefer attractive packaging of foreign smuggled brands which doesn’t adhere to Indian regulations like 85 per cent pictorial health warning,” said the report by FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy).
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Customs ropes in students to fight counterfeiting
Dubai: Customs authorities are encouraging youngsters to come up with creative ideas that can further help spread awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and the negative impact of counterfeit items on people’s health and the economy.
In its fight against counterfeiting and piracy and spreading an understanding about the adverse effects that counterfeit goods can have on consumers, Dubai Customs IPR Department launched the ninth edition of the Annual Award for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for universities and schools on Wednesday. The award allows youth to submit their entries of worthwhile projects and initiatives that tackle IPR and the harmful sides to counterfeit products.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/customs-ropes-in-students-to-fight-counterfeiting-1.1911924
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Animal feed producer sues distributor on counterfeit claims
The speciality feed maker, based in California, claims VBC Peptide Inc, also based in California, has been developing counterfeit feed in China and also selling product in counterfeit Vitech packaging. It also states the practice was occurring while the two companies negotiated a distribution deal in 2014.
Vitech said it has lost more than $2m in sales as a result of the counterfeit actions. It is suing Peptide for fraud and to establish that the distribution deal is void.
The allegations come as a result of Vitech discovering there was a discrepancy in the sales figures. It found that sales to Peptide had dropped yet sales of Vitech products in China were unchanged. When queried, Vitech was told there was excess product in storage.
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Two men arrested by HMRC as part of investigation into suspected multi-million pound tobacco smuggling fraud
A MAN from Dagenham was arrested by HMRC last week as part of an investigation into a suspected £2.24 million tobacco smuggling fraud.
The 29-year-old was arrested on suspicion of importing and distributing non-UK duty paid tobacco products. Another man, 22, from Basildon, Essex, was arrested for the same reason. Both men were bailed until January 2017.
HMRC, with the help of Norfolk Police, seized 7.3 million illicit cigarettes from a unit in Catfield late on Tuesday October 4, before searching suspects’ homes in east London and Essex on Wednesday October 5.
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Tobacco smuggled out of Wellington factory sold on social media
“It’s an offense if you buy stolen products. Like, if a deal is too good to be true, it is too good to be true,” said Inspector Bronwyn Marshall of Wellington Police.
The product usually ends up overseas, but in a case that’s seen four men in the Hutt Valley District Court, most of the stolen goods were sold locally on social media.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/tobacco-smuggled-wellington-factory-sold-social-media
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Animal feed producer sues distributor on counterfeit claims
The speciality feed maker, based in California, claims VBC Peptide Inc, also based in California, has been developing counterfeit feed in China and also selling product in counterfeit Vitech packaging. It also states the practice was occurring while the two companies negotiated a distribution deal in 2014.
Vitech said it has lost more than $2m in sales as a result of the counterfeit actions. It is suing Peptide for fraud and to establish that the distribution deal is void.
The allegations come as a result of Vitech discovering there was a discrepancy in the sales figures. It found that sales to Peptide had dropped yet sales of Vitech products in China were unchanged. When queried, Vitech was told there was excess product in storage.
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