Against counterfeiting and Smuggling - for a safer India

Run Against counterfeiting and Smuggling ; run for a safer India

In the recent past India’s economic growth story has attracted world’s attention bringing new challenges for the domestic economy. One of the challenges currently faced is the growing illicit trade in counterfeits, pass offs and smuggled goods. Counterfeits, pass offs and smuggled goods are threatening brands not only in every region of the country but is widespread in the world. Contraband and counterfeit product manufacturers hurt the integrity of the brand and further dilute the brand owner’s reputation. This not only results in erosion of sales of the legitimate product by further [CASACADE]s onto affect the consumers in the form of health and safety hazards.

With the above insight the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) took the initiative to dedicate a forum by establishing the Committee on Anti-Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying Economy - C A S C A D E a dedicated forum for addressing the issue

AIMS

• Generating awareness on the hazardous impact of smuggled, contraband and counterfeit products amongst Consumers and citizens
• Capacity building of law enforcement agencies including Judges, Police and Customs Officers
• Research and proposing law reforms
• Interactions with the law enforcement authorities to emphasize on the importance of continued awareness and seriousness of the impact of counterfeit goods
• Enforcement of IP related laws
• Systematic dissemination of enforcement techniques, procedure and strategy through regular workshops for the guidance of its members 
• Sharing the best practices followed globally for combating contraband, smuggled and counterfeit product
• Provide knowledge support to the industry members 

Counterfeit means to imitate something. Counterfeit products are fake replicas of the real products. Such products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior quality and /or value of the imitated products. Smuggling means bringing in or taking out of goods from one region to another in violation of the prevalent law of that region. There are various motivations to smuggle and counterfeit products. The unscrupulous people who wish to earn easy money enter the supply chain and disrupt the same by participating in illegal trade, such as in the selling of fake life saving drug trade, supplying counterfeit or fake hardware, CDS etc

The North East:

The North East India comprises of eight contiguous states of highly undulating hilly terrains, covering 263,179 sq km which is about 8% of the total geographical area of the country. The region is one of the landlocked regions of South Asia. About 4500 km i.e. 98% of its border is with five different countries of South Asia–Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. No other region of the Indian union share common border with so many different countries connecting with the heartland through the tenuous 22 km Siliguri corridor.

The Main Problem: 

The lack of connectivity and access to market, the main causes for underutilization of resources and weak resource-industry linkages, have badly affected the economy of the region. Borders of the region have been left for transit corridors for illegal trade. Like the other regions of the country counterfeiting is also a major problem in North East India adversely affects the economy. What adds to the problem is the easy availability of counterfeit products across the border and the fact that the illegal immigrants are forced into counterfeit distribution by the migrant smugglers. Main products that are counterfeited in the North east are pharmaceuticals, FMCG, cosmetics, software, garments and tobacco. Fake drugs are sourced from Burma, Bangladesh and are sent by suppliers to north east. Cough syrups and other over-the-counter medicines are easily available in form of counterfeits. Lack of proper awareness and knowledge make way for pirated CDs and software. There are researches conducted by international bodies like The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists which show that the money generated by this smuggling is used to carter to the needs of the terrorist organizations like Al- Qaeda and it has been concluded that cigarette smuggling has provided the bulk of financing for AQIM.

Hence as part of it s pan Indian awareness seminar and understanding the zeal of the youth of the nation FICCI CASCADE in collaboration with MIC, SSCBS, DU is organizing Confluence and a Cross Country Race. Thus the youth from all parts of the nation are invited to join us in the cause.