MASCRADE 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has called for greater focus on addressing the growing hazards of counterfeiting and smuggling which are severely impacting the economy and endangering lives of consumers. While the 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 advantage of the pandemic by providing illicit alternatives of essential and non-essential items both online and offline.

The current environment most certainly presents a new opportunity for all stakeholders to tackle this long-standing problem. It is in this background that MASCRADE 2021 will focus on actionable, innovative policy solutions and greater awareness generation that can reverse the rising tide of counterfeit, smuggled and spurious products.

“Our goal is to foster a healthy discussion on newer and practical strategies to mitigate the challenges of counterfeiting and smuggling especially in a post COVID era”

What are we discussing this year?

Illicit trade amid public health crisis – Global perspectives

Amid the chaos created by the covid-19 pandemic and the various policy responses designed to contain its spread, illicit players have used the pandemic as an opportunity to increase their nefarious activities, causing significant damage on the economy of the nation, health and safety of people worldwide.

Session will talk about:

Mapping the impact of smuggling, counterfeiting and tax evasion on public health
Global and regional trends in the proliferation of smuggled, counterfeit and spurious healthcare and essential items – What have governments, and institutions been doing to address the problem?
A comprehensive global strategy in achieving increased access to quality, safe and licit products
Policy reforms and international cooperation for reduction and deterrence of the risks in a post COVID scenario

Placing Public Health and Safety at the Heart of the Fight Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting

Counterfeiters and smugglers prey upon the vulnerabilities and takes advantage of the average customer at any cost. The Covid-19 pandemic has played havoc on society and perhaps been the most inconvenient and vulnerable period for the public at large. The current scenario creates an entirely new wave of threats and consequences for consumers. Demand comes from consumers, so engaging consumers, influencing public opinion and understanding demand behavior are critical in the fight against smuggling and counterfeiting.

The session will talk about:

What are the costs, health and safety risks to society from counterfeit and smuggled consumer goods? What can governments, businesses and consumers do to stop these
Consumer protection and empowerment in the marketplace based on consumer rights
Co-ordinated strategies to build fair, safe, resilient and sustainable economies through consumer protection
Approaches to include consumer interest in anti-counterfeiting, anti-smuggling and brand protection strategies

INDUSTRY REACTS

Industry and businesses have an important role to play in addressing the health and economic impacts of the COVID induced crisis. With illicit players identifying new sources for supply of components and packaging material, and the emergence of new markets for manufacturing and import of counterfeit/smuggled goods, protecting consumers as well as a company’s brand identity is more important than ever during the current challenging times.

Presentations:

Brand protection for consumer’s protection (E-commerce Industry)

Cashing the Crisis – Perspectives from Healthcare industry

Some Savings are not Worth It – Perspectives from FMCG Industry

Quarantining Counterfeiting and Smuggling – Accelerate Action Against Criminals

While governments across the globe are committed to fighting this crisis, there are also criminals who have been quick to seize the opportunity to exploit the calamity. Needless to state that the implications of the coronavirus pandemic for governance and law enforcement is bound to be profound. With increasing number of seizures/raids being reported every day, it is highly possible that the total seizures may just be the tip of the iceberg of a much larger criminal network. Illegal activities and related crimes are a serious disrupting factor and diverts the efforts to ensure public health and safety. That is why it is extremely vital to reinforce the fight against such crimes.

The session will talk about:

Changes in the modus operandi of organized criminal groups triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic
Cybercrime a growing coronacrime- Increased cyber-attacks, and online scams aimed to profit from the global health concern
Turning intelligence into investigations and the importance of generating, analyzing and sharing information