Del. Krupicka seeks big increase in cigarette taxes
File this in the “probably not going far in 2015” category: Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45th) has introduced legislation calling for a massive increase in Virginia’s cigarette taxes.
Under Krupicka’s proposal, the state tax would rise from the current 30 cents to $2 per pack, and the excise tax on “roll-your-own” tobacco would increase from 10 percent of the manufacturer’s sales price to 60 percent.
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Abbott product distribution faces monopoly queries
The National Steering Committee on the Prevention and Control of Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Fake Commodities has asked the Ministry of Health to adjust regulations to help firms import Abbott’s Ensure milk products in order to prevent monopoly.The move came after the committee reported that US-based Abbott Laboratories and its exclusive Vietnamese distributor 3A Nutrition Vietnam Co., Ltd appeared to be monopolising the distribution of the vanilla-flavoured Ensure original shake into Vietnam.
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Counterfeiting takes toll on economy
The business community has called for closer collaboration with regulatory authorities to fight the counterfeit menace to save businesses, consumers and the economy.Mr HazemChalabi, the acting General Manager of Silver Star Auto Ltd, distributors of Mercedes Benz vehicles and spare parts, called for a task force made up of the government, the private sector, consumers and civil society to conduct regular checks in the market to stem the influx of counterfeit products.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/artikel.php?ID=342346
Lear MoreAbbott product distribution faces monopoly queries
The National Steering Committee on the Prevention and Control of Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Fake Commodities has asked the Ministry of Health to adjust regulations to help firms import Abbott’s Ensure milk products in order to prevent monopoly.
The move came after the committee reported that US-based Abbott Laboratories and its exclusive Vietnamese distributor 3A Nutrition Vietnam Co., Ltd appeared to be monopolising the distribution of the vanilla-flavoured Ensure original shake into Vietnam.
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Gulf states plan laws to curb fuel smuggling
‘If there’s a subsidy, countries don’t want those products to be sent across the border’ UAE energy minister says. Abu Dhabi: Gulf countries including the UAE and Saudi Arabia are formulating new legislation to curb fuel smuggling, the UAE energy minister said on Tuesday.
Smuggling of fuel, including diesel, gasoline and other products, is frequent across the borders of some Gulf Arab states, where different levels of fuel subsidies create price gaps that criminals can exploit.
http://gulfnews.com/business/oil-gas/gulf-states-plan-laws-to-curb-fuel-smuggling-1.1440816
Lear MoreNot very smart: Man busted for smuggling 94 iPhones strapped to body
When it comes to smuggling, not all mules are created equal.Chinese customs officials on Sunday busted a Hong Kong man trying to sneak 94 iPhones into the mainland — by strapping them on his body.The man caught the attention of inspectors at the Futian crossing in Shenzhen, a southern Chinese metropolis bordering Hong Kong, when he walked like someone carrying a heavy load despite appearing to travel light, customs officials told CNN on Tuesday.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/13/asia/china-iphone-smuggler/
Lear MorePharma crime: news in brief
Orange capsulesMHRA actions, an FDA import alert, spurious antibiotics in Bangladesh, as well as fake Recormon and stolen Abbott drugs in the Philippines. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has said it took action to close down more than 1,600 websites illegally advertising and selling medicines last year, with many of the medicines offered falsified, counterfeit or unlicensed. The agency’s enforcement officers also seized illegal medicines with a value of more than £3m, mainly erectile dysfunction drugs and slimming products but also sleeping pills and antidepressants, with the most common countries of origin India and China.
http://www.securingindustry.com/pharmaceuticals/pharma-crime-news-in-brief/s40/a2236/#.VLS6rdKUfNc
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Launch of Apple smartwatch soured by fakes
Apple WatchAs Apple gears up to launch its new smartwatch the lamentable yet inevitable tide of fakes has already begun.The technology giant’s smartwatch is rumoured to be launched in March this year, but at the highly publicised Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015) in Las Vegas, Nevada, last week a Chinese company was spotted by reporters selling allegedly fake versions of the product.
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Tanzania: Some Fake Goods Are Dangerous
JUMA Mlagaja bought fake electrical wiring cables unwittingly for his new multi-million shilling house at Kigamboni. All went well until the wiring job was complete. When the lights were turned on there was a shocking explosion. The house went up in flames. Mlagaja collapsed, but he survived. What Mlagaja did not know was that most of the electrical paraphernalia he had bought from various shops in Dar es Salaam were fake, counterfeit or substandard.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201501120631.html
Lear MoreMicrosoft, Alibaba collaborate to take on counterfeit software products
Tech giant Microsoft has collaborated with Chinese online retailer Alibaba Group to remove counterfeit and unlicensed software from the online retailer’s Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.com online shopping websites.
As part of the MOU agreement, Alibaba has agreed to remove product listings for suspected counterfeit or unlicensed Microsoft products from Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.com upon receiving complaints from Microsoft.
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