Lok Sabha Question No. 1277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Fake Products by Chinese Exporters
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1277(H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  JULY, 2016

## FAKE PRODUCTS BY CHINESE EXPORTERS

## 1277(H). SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received reports of alleged sale of fake consumer products and  other  products  of  popular  Indian  brands  by  Chinese  exporters  where  norms  of trademarks have been violated;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  its  impact  on  national  exchequer  and  the  domestic producers;
- (c) whether special cases of  selling  of  such  fake  products  in  the  country  have  come  to  the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has taken up this issue with the Chinese authorities and if so, the details thereof along with the outcome thereof; and
- (e) if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  preventive  measures  being  taken  by  the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) to (e): Embassy  of  India  has  come  across  some  instances  of  Chinese  companies infringing upon copyright/trademark of Indian brands/products such as Natraj, Raymond, JK Files and Tools, Fevicol, Onida, Godrej, Boroplus, Dabur, Mida& Company Private Ltd and some Indian incense stick brands.

Two  cases  were  recently  booked  by  Indian  Customs  wherein  popular  Indian  brands manufactured in India were imported. The details are as under:

| Description of the Item   | Indian brand name   | Manufacturer                           | Imported              | Tentative value   |
|---------------------------|---------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------|
| Cosmetics                 | Lotus               | M/s Kanidi Cosmeceuticals, Solan, H.P. | M/s Shiva Enterprises | Rs. 11,34,360/-   |

| Lakme, Ponds, Fair & Lovely   | (i) M/s Hindustan Unilever Limited, Uttarakhand (ii) M/s Hindustan Unilever Limited, Andheri, Mumbai (iii) M/s Schwan Stabilo, Mktd.. by Hindustan Unilever Limited, Mumbai   | -do-   | Rs. 2,27,89,518/-   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|---------------------|

On receipt of complaints from Indian companies, the cases of copyright/trademark  violations  are  taken  up  at  appropriate  level  with  relevant Government agencies in China by Embassy of India, Beijing. China  recognizes  a  'first  to  file'  system,  which  means  that  the  rights  of trademark belongs to the first person/company who properly registers the trademark in China. The Chinese side has acted upon few of the cases by allowing the Indian companies  to  register  with  the  Trademark  Office  of  the  State  Administration  for Industry and Commerce of China. However, the onus of trademark registration and protection  in  China  lies  on  the  enterprises  concerned.  As  per  the  extant  rules  in China, the individual enterprise has to file a case in relevant forum by hiring a law firm on reported instances of trademark/copyright infringements.

*****