FMCG giants join brand protection body

FMCG giants join brand protection body

JAN 13: Top fast moving consumer goods companies Hindustan Lever, Procter & Gamble and Dabur have joined hands to fight the menace of counterfeit products and passoffs circulating in the market.

These activities are prevalent on a high pitch in states like Madhya Prades, Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai and Ficci's BPC proposes to approach the state governments to help stop this menace, Dr Amit Mitra, secretary general of Ficci said while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.

The infringing products were violating the trademarks and copyrights of well-known brands such as Ariel, Head & shoulders and Pantene of P&G, Dabur Amla hair oil of Dabur and Sunsilk, Clinic All Clear and Clinic Plus of HLL.

Ficci's BPC has also set up a first of its kind dedicated website, fake-busters.com to facilitate open communication between stakeholders and it also offers Food and Drugs Association addresses.

Apart from FMCG products, the website will expand its reach to 20 products segregated in 8 categories including rubs & balms, glucose biscuits, beverages, coconut oils, batteries, shampoos & soaps, detergents and fairness creams.

Ficci BPC is also working in tandem with Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance members including Ranbaxy, Dr Reddys, Alembic and others to take up the issue of spurious drugs as well.

This aggressive collaborative action is the first in the series of actions by the Brand Promotion Committee and part of its four-fold strategy which includes taking action against infringers, advocating more effective enforcement of existing laws and regulations, measuring and publicising negative economic impact of counterfeit and passoffs and opening communication channels between stakeholders, to generate awareness and stimulate action.

Dabur India's director, Sunil Duggal said, "a large number of counterfeit and passoff products of popular brands are a sad reflection of the state of brand protection in the country".

FMCG market in India is worth Rs 60,000 crore and the annual loss to the industry has been to the tune of Rs 1700 crore. The government too has been a loser as the counterfeit products escape excise duty.

P&G senior manager, Deepak Acharya said, "we have a responsibility to our consumers. These look-alikes harm consumers' interest since they do not provide any of the benefits of our original, superior quality products and do not meet the consumer's needs in any way".