Consumer group calls for action vs. counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms

Advocacy group Malayang Konsyumer on Tuesday sounded the alarm on the proliferation of counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms.

In a statement, Malayang Konsyumer said the problem could be described as a "full-blown consumer protection crisis" as it called for "consistent and decisive" enforcement of existing laws and online marketplace regulations, citing risks that fake products pose on consumers.

"We strongly condemn the continued proliferation of counterfeit, unsafe, and illegally sold products on major e-commerce platforms… This is no longer a small enforcement problem. It is a full-blown consumer protection crisis," said Mark Jansen Magsano, Convenor of Malayang Konsyumer.

"Every fake product sold online represents a Filipino consumer deceived, a legitimate business undermined, a lawful brand violated, and a household potentially exposed to unsafe, substandard, or unregulated goods," said Magsano.

The group cited the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights seizure of P18.64 billion worth of counterfeit goods from January to September 2025 through border operations by the Bureau of Customs.

"These figures should not be celebrated," said Magsano.

"They are proof that counterfeit products are entering these platforms at an industrial scale, placing millions of fake and dangerous goods within reach of ordinary Filipinos every single day," added Magsano.

Malayang Konsyumer said the negative effects of counterfeit products extend far beyond simple trademark infringement.

The group further warned that fake goods, from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to children's toys and household adhesives, pose severe risks to the public including exposure to toxic chemicals in cosmetics, ineffective or harmful ingredients in medicines, and fire or structural hazards from substandard electronics and industrial adhesives.

Malayang Konsyumer said the large-scale sale of counterfeit goods also undermines legitimate businesses, leading to job losses and the decline of the local industry. It also threatens the integrity of the digital economy, making everyday online transactions a gamble for the average Filipino household.

"These are not harmless bargains. Fake products can injure consumers, damage property, expose families to unsafe chemicals, deprive government of revenue, destroy legitimate jobs, and erode public trust in online commerce," said Magsano.

The group urged government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry's E-Commerce Bureau, the Intellectual Property Office, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Bureau of Customs to strictly enforce Republic Act 11967, or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, to crack down on online counterfeit trade.

"These agencies must use the full force of their respective mandates to investigate counterfeit listings, issue takedown orders, pursue repeat violators, enforce intellectual property and product safety laws, strengthen border controls, and protect consumers from fake, unsafe, mislabeled, and non-compliant goods. The law already provides the tools. What is needed now is decisive enforcement," said Magsano.

GMA News Online has requested comment from DTI on the matter, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

Meanwhile, Malayang Konsyumer also said that e-commerce platforms must stop treating counterfeit listings as an "inevitable cost of doing business."

"Platforms have the data, payment channels, and algorithmic controls to stop this. They cannot profit from online transactions while avoiding responsibility for the products sold within their digital walls," said Magsano said. — VDV, GMA News