At a regular press conference held on June 19, the ministry reported that closures have mainly affected businesses in food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, confectionery, clothing, and household goods.

Hoang Anh Duong, Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Department, explained that this wave of closures followed a nationwide crackdown by local authorities and enforcement agencies targeting smuggling, commercial fraud, and counterfeit goods.

A key reason for these shutdowns is the growing ineffectiveness of traditional retail in the face of rapidly expanding e-commerce. In addition, increased regulatory pressure and robust enforcement efforts have caused concern among business owners who have not fully complied with legal requirements.

Local reports indicated that many retailers failed to meet necessary legal standards. For example, those selling goods of unclear origin opted to shut down when asked by authorities to provide proof of source and transparency.

To address the situation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to implement a series of focused measures.

The ministry will closely monitor market trends, smuggling, and fraudulent trade to detect and address emerging tactics and violations. It will also coordinate with provincial and municipal industry departments to direct market management forces in launching targeted inspection campaigns - especially in the e-commerce space.

Additionally, the ministry aims to propose amendments to current regulations and clarify agency responsibilities to avoid overlap in enforcement. It is also contributing to the drafting of a new decree on e-commerce regulation.

Efforts will continue under Project 319, which targets counterfeit goods and protects consumers in online commerce. A new phase of this initiative is being developed to reflect current market conditions.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan emphasized that the intensified crackdown from May 15 to June 15 yielded highly positive outcomes. The most important result, he noted, was the restoration of consumer confidence and motivation for legitimate businesses to continue operating with integrity.

This campaign also helped clean up the market, discouraging dishonest practices and reinforcing that not all products are fake or substandard, as the deputy minister explained.

Regarding product origin and quality standards, Deputy Minister Tan acknowledged the need to enhance oversight and improve domestic product standards. The ministry is actively working on establishing a revised set of standards to ensure Vietnamese consumers have access to high-quality goods.

He further affirmed the ministry's commitment to making anti-smuggling and anti-fraud efforts routine and sustainable, not just tied to short-term campaigns.

In response to a public complaint regarding Ms. Chu Thanh Huyen (wife of a well-known football player) allegedly selling products without invoices or documentation, Hoang Anh Duong stated that relevant agencies and local market management authorities have initiated investigations. Results will be made public once the review is complete.

Tam An