The Customs and Excise Department and the Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (HKAPI) today (December 21) announced that the Reward Scheme Against Counterfeit and Trademark Infringed Pharmaceutical Products (the Scheme) had been renewed for another year.
"The renewal signifies the joint effort between Customs and the industry in combating counterfeit and trademark infringed pharmaceutical products activities," a spokesman for Customs and Excise said today (December 21).
"For protecting intellectual property rights, it is high on Customs enforcement agenda to crack down on counterfeiting pharmaceutical activities. Until November 2004, Customs officers have cracked five concerned cases resulting in the seizure of $ 7,625 worth of products and the arrest of six persons," he added.
Since the Scheme was established in November 2003, a total of 138 relevant calls have been received from the Customs 24-hour hotline so far. Of these calls, five have led to successful Customs crackdown of the above cases.
To further arouse public awareness of counterfeit and trademark infringed pharmaceutical products, and to encourage more reporting of the activities concerned, the reward amount has been doubled from $5,000 to $10,000 upon renewal of the Scheme.
Under the renewed Scheme, reward money shall be payable to a person providing information in two stages:
Initial payment of $10,000: for information leading to seizure of counterfeit or trademark infringed pharmaceutical products and charges being laid against the person/company involved.
Additional payment of $10,000: for information ultimately resulting in criminal conviction of the person/company involved.
The reward scheme, financed by HKAPI and administered by the Customs and Excise Department, was established in November 2003. It aims at encouraging the public to report on activities of counterfeit and trademark infringed pharmaceutical products.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, the maximum penalty for selling or possessing for sale any goods bearing false trade marks or false trade descriptions is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public are encouraged to report to Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 counterfeit and trademark infringed pharmaceutical product activities.
Ends/Tuesday, December 21, 2004