FAS: REDUCTION IN AVERAGE PRICE OF GOODS IMPORTED BY PARALLEL IMPORT REACHES 50%

It was stated by Karina Taukenova, Deputy Head of FAS Russia, at the X Anniversary International Forum "Anti-Counterfeit-2022"

At the session "At the junction of competencies: practice, issues and prospects of interdepartmental cooperation in protecting the market from counterfeit products" Ms. Karina Taukenova spoke about some of the results of the introduction of parallel imports in Russia*.

According to the information received from the largest marketplaces, in the categories of "clothing", "shoes", where free import is allowed, there is a decrease in the average price of goods from 7% to 50%.

At the same time, for certain categories of consumer goods, where free import has not yet been allowed, there is an increase in prices up to 30% and a decrease in sales volumes from 8% to 20% compared to the previous year.

The speaker noted that the key players to ensure the saturation of the market are the participants of the trade infrastructure and they play an important role in the fight against counterfeit products: they need to ensure freely access to trading platforms for bona fide importers and sellers and prevent counterfeit, illegally manufactured products from entering circulation.

Karina Taukenova stressed that the development of relevant rules is actively conducted by leading marketplaces. At the initiative of FAS Russia, there were held a number of joint meetings, where the intention of all trading platforms to introduce mechanisms of interaction with sellers aimed at minimizing the volume of counterfeit goods on sale was indicated.

Deputy Head of FAS Russia said that market participants have already launched a unified information system for combating counterfeiting in a test mode at the AKIT site: data exchange will quickly identify violations and cut off offers with fakes at once at all sites.

At the end of her speech, Karina Taukenova reminded all the participants that the manufacturer, seller, importer of goods is obliged to provide warranty service in accordance with the legislation. Even in the absence of the possibility of contacting the manufacturer's representative office, the buyer can contact the seller or importer. At the same time, the scope of the guarantee on the terms and scope of work can be voluntarily expanded by any participant in the chain.

For reference:

* Resolution of March 29, 2022 No. 506  "On Goods (Groups of Goods) in Respect of which Certain Provisions of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation on the Protection of Exclusive Rights to the Results of Intellectual Activity Expressed in Such Goods and the Means of Individualization with which such Goods are Marked cannot be applied"