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Capacity Building Programme on Preventive Strategies to Combat Counterfeiting and Smuggling

December 16, 2022 | Goa

The magnitude of the problem of counterfeiting, and smuggling is widespread which demands emphasis and priority of enforcement agencies. Capacity building is an ongoing exercise that plays an instrumental role in motivating and enabling the law enforcement agencies to understand the gravity of the problem and take requisite actions against the perpetrators.

There are adequate laws available, but enforcement of the laws makes the role of police officers very important to fight against counterfeiting, and smuggling.

Therefore, to combat the socio-economic evils of illicit trade from the society, which are risky parasites to the economy and cause danger to the lives of individuals, FICCI CASCADE is organising a training program to sensitize the police officers of Goa on 16th December 2022.

Youth Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting :School Competition Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting

5 December 2022 | Inter- School Competition, Patna, Bihar

FICCI CASCADE organized a youth competition on the theme “Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting” on 5th December 2022 at Bankipur Girls High School. The programme was divided into three competitions: Painting, Elocution and Jingle Writing. The competition witnessed enthusiastic participation of over 350+ children from 40 leading schools in Patna. The competition was meant to generate awareness among the country’s youth and seek their support in addressing the growing hazards posed by counterfeiting and smuggling to strengthen the fight against illicit trade. It saw a plethora of ideas, innovative expressions, talent and content exhibited in way of speech, art and write ups.

Winners of the competition were

Capacity Building Programme for Chhattisgarh Police Officers

11^th January 2023| Chhattisgarh

The magnitude of the problem of counterfeiting, and smuggling is widespread which demands emphasis and priority of enforcement agencies. Capacity building is an ongoing exercise that plays an instrumental role in motivating and enabling the law enforcement agencies to understand the gravity of the problem and take requisite actions against the perpetrators.

There are adequate laws available, but enforcement of the laws makes the role of police officers very important to fight against counterfeiting, and smuggling.

Therefore, to combat the socio-economic evils of illicit trade from the society, which are risky parasites to the economy and cause danger to the lives of individuals, FICCI CASCADE is organising a training program to sensitize the police officers of Chhattisgarh on 11^th January 2023.

Seminar on Preventive Strategies to Combat Counterfeiting and Smuggling

10^th January 2023| Hotel Courtyard by Marriott, Raipur 

FICCI CASCADE believes that awareness and outreach is an essential element in building a proactive strategy to curb counterfeiting and smuggling. With this view, FICCI CASCADE is organising a seminar on “Preventive Strategies to Combat Counterfeiting and Smuggling” on 10^th January 2023 at Hotel Courtyard by Marriott, Raipur.  The objective of this seminar is to focus on spreading awareness and enabling a dialogue between the stakeholders on the alarming magnitude of smuggling and counterfeiting and exterminating this demon from the society. There is a need for consumers to demand their right of genuine and authentic products; the seminar aims to awake the stakeholders on this menace. 

Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting

9^th January 2023| Shri Shankaracharya Technical Campus, Junwani, Bhilai

Over the years, FICCI CASCADE is working on creating awareness on tackling the problem of smuggling and counterfeiting which is a serious menace to public health and safety. Along with policy makers, industry, enforcement officials and media, we have also been working closely with the youth in our fight to address this issue through various interschool and intercollege competitions and programmes. 

FICCI CASCADE believes that it is important to bring the youth onboard the awareness campaign and through them influence the society as a whole. It will help in empowering and strengthening them to act for national development and will also help in shaping the future of our country in a brighter and more prosperous manner.

In our endeavour, to sensitize the young minds on the need to work together to address the growing hazards posed by counterfeiting and smuggling, FICCI CASCADE is organizing an Inter-School/College Competition on “Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting” on 9^th January 2023 at Shri Shankaracharya Technical Campus, Junwani, Bhilai. 

The programme will have competitions among the students of various schools/colleges in Patna in the following/categories:

1. Painting Competition   (For School Students) 
2. Elocution Competition  (For School Students)
3. Jingle Writing Competition (For College Students)

Capacity Building Programme on Preventive Strategies to Combat Counterfeiting and Smuggling

Focus state: GOA|16^th December 2022

Across the globe, illicit networks are infiltrating and corrupting legitimate business markets, reducing productivity, and dis-incentivizing investments, jeopardizing public health and eroding the security of our nation. Illicit trade is an increasingly growing global concern which is threatening India’s legal industry, adding social cost to the consumers and causing huge loss to the exchequers. India today had the potential to become a global manufacturing hub. However, widespread smuggling and counterfeiting act as a dampener in achieving this goal. It is time that India, as a nation and as a part of the global economy, call for strict and resolute enforcement actions against such activities.

Shri Jaspal Singh IPS, Director General of Police, Goa was the chief guest at the programme. Shri Singh informed that awareness is the first step towards enforcement as the problem of trade in illicit products emanates from the lack of awareness. Counterfeiting and Smuggling have developed into a substantial threat to the economy globally, this is the biggest challenge and needs to be addressed at a priority with effective enforcement of laws as a key to curb the menace.

While giving an overview on socio-economic impact of counterfeiting and smuggling, Mr. Deep Chand IPS, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi stated that lack of stringent enforcement, weak surveillance and weak regulatory framework are the main factors responsible for illicit trade. He opined that the wider social, investment and criminal enforcement costs due to smuggling and counterfeiting could touch $4.2 trillion putting at risk 5.4 million legitimate jobs.

Mr. Chand further stated that as per the FICCI CASCADE’s recent report titled “Illicit Markets: A Threat to Our National Interests”, the unlawful trade in the five key industries (Mobile Phones, FMCG-Household and Personal Goods, FMCG-Packaged Foods, Tobacco Products, and Alcoholic Beverages) results in a total estimated legitimate employment loss of 15.96 lakh. The estimated size of illicit market was ₹2,60,094 crore for the year 2019-20 and the tax loss to the government in these industries was Rs 58,521 crore, with two highly regulated and taxed industries, tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages, accounting for nearly 49% of the overall tax loss.

Mr.  Pradeep Dixit, Executive Vice President – Industry Affairs, ITC Ltd. stated that India is the 4th largest and fastest growing market for smuggling of illegal cigarettes, which calls for heightened awareness and sensitization of people in the society. Generating mass awareness amongst the consumers is an important mean to curtail the hazards of growing illicit trade, added Mr Dixit.

Mr. Ashish Sawant, Assistant Manager, Global Brand Protection, APAC Region, Johnson & Johnson highlighted that counterfeit products have a detrimental impact on both the manufacturers and consumers.  It poses severe risk to company’s reputation, brand image and negatively affect the consumers’ confidence in the global market. It also affects businesses and consumers alike by sowing mistrust in genuine products made by reputable brands.

Ms. Sucheta Dessai, SP, Goa Police mentioned that smuggled & counterfeit products are a serious concern to the economy and the society at large, hurting the integrity of the brand, reducing employment opportunities and most importantly, threating health and safety. There is vital need for the policy makers, enforcement agencies and industry to be on the front foot, to tackle it.

FICCI CASCADE has been over the years working closely with government, industry, enforcement officials, legal fraternity, consumer organizations and the youth to create awareness on the adverse impact of the problem of counterfeiting and smuggling.  Among other activities, FICCI CASCADE has been regularly engaging with law enforcement agencies including police, customs and paramilitary organizations engaged in border protection in sensitizing them on the gravity of the problem.

Awareness Programme on Preventive Strategies to Combat Counterfeiting and Smuggling

6 December 2022| L. N. Mishra Institute of Economic Development & Social Change, Patna

The unrelenting growth of illicit trade through Counterfeiting and Smuggling is a global problem of enormous scale, impacting virtually every industry sector around the world. Illicit trade in counterfeit and smuggled goods dampens the economy in multidimensional ways and the problem has been aggravated by globalization and increased mobility. 

In order to spread awareness on the issue of illicit trade, FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) in association with the Government of Bihar is organizing an awareness programme on ‘Preventive Strategies to Combat Counterfeiting and Smuggling’ on 6^th December 2022 at L. N. Mishra Institute of Economic Development & Social Change, Patna, Bihar.

DRI expresses concern over increased cigarette smuggling; warns smokers against cheap sticks

 Officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have expressed concern over cigarette smuggling in a report, saying that high incidence of tax on the sin good is resulting in a tax arbitrage in favour of smuggling. It said the smuggled cigarettes are, on an average, 50 per cent cheaper in the Indian market as compared to the the similar domestic brands. From a public health perspective, the smuggling of cigarettes also poses a serious challenge since a part of the smuggled cigarettes are counterfeits and the quality of tobacco and other ingredients used in them, is inferior, it added. 

During 2021-22, 11 crore sticks valued at Rs 93 crore were seized by DRI officers. While 47 per cent of this originated from Myanmar, 22 per cent came from the UAE and 31 per cent from others. The report said COVID-19 pandemic has forced the policymakers and the businesses worldwide to thoroughly revisit their prevalent policy/business models. The same holds good for smugglers and contraband traffickers as well. 

https://zeenews.india.com/economy/dri-expresses-concern-over-increased-cigarette-smuggling-warns-smokers-against-cheap-sticks-2544352.html

Youth Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting :School Competition Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting

5 December 2022 | Bankipur Girls High School, Infront of Divisional Commissioner’s office, Patna, Bihar

Over the years, FICCI CASCADE is working on creating awareness on tackling the problem of smuggling and counterfeiting which is a serious menace to public health and safety. Along with policy makers, industry, enforcement officials and media, we have also been working closely with the youth in our fight to address this issue through various interschool and intercollege competitions and programmes.

FICCI CASCADE believes that it is important to bring the youth onboard the awareness campaign and through them influence the society as a whole. It will help in empowering and strengthening them to act for national development and will also help in shaping the future of our country in a brighter and more prosperous manner.

In our endeavour, to sensitize the young minds on the need to work together to address the growing hazards posed by counterfeiting and smuggling, FICCI CASCADE is organizing a Youth Awareness Programme on “Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting” on 5 December 2022 at Bankipur Girls High School, Patna, Bihar.

The programme will have competitions among the students of various schools in Patna in the following/categories:

• Painting Competition
• Elocution Competition
• Jingle Writing Competition