Premier Zhu Rongji said in the People's Daily Monday that strengthening market supervision and management is a necessary requirement for establishing the socialist market economy and enforcing market laws and fair play in competition.

Zhu said that severe penalties should be given to criminals involved in the production and sale of fake products. Relevant government departments, such as the quality supervision and inspection and quarantine department, department for industry and commerce, public security department and customs, should work cooperatively.

Zhu emphasized that special attention should be given to the fight against fake products that harm people's interests.

In Beijing, the largest campaign against fake cosmetics infringing on foreign trademarks started Monday in the capital's two major small commodities markets by the local bureau for industry and commerce, with the help of the local public security bureau.

Monday's actions mainly targeted fake commodities using the serial trademarks of L'oreal, Maybelline and Lancome, of the France-based L'oreal Group, which had sent complaints to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the country's market watchdog. Large amounts of fake sun cream, eye mascara, lipstick and other cosmetic products in addition to the three trademark violations were seized Monday in the 80 stalls and four storehouses of Wantong Market, a large wholesale market in Fuchengmen, by the bureau for industry and commerce, after a two-month preparation.

The volume and value of the seized commodities are still being calculated, as the extent of the operation is huge, according to Cao Zhongsheng, director of the Department of Consumer Rights and Interests Protection under the Municipal Bureau for Industry and Commerce.

"This move aims to further protect the intellectual property rights of foreign businesses and help create a favorable environment for foreign investment in China," said Teng Jiacai, deputy director of the Department of Consumer Rights and Interests Protection under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

"The low price is the main factor attracting consumers to buy fake cosmetics. For example, one of our lipsticks costs 59 yuan (US$7.1), however, fake lipstick products are less than 20 yuan (US$2.4)," said a salesperson surnamed Shi who assisted with yesterday's action.

(China Daily 07/17/2001)