Illicit trade impacts innovation, investment, brands: Ficci

Counterfeiting and smuggling are presenting a bigger challenge for enforcement authorities and governments globally, says a new report.

According to industry body Ficci, the perpetrators of illicit trade are becoming increasingly sophisticated, well-connected and funded, often their is a direct link of these activities to terrorists.

According to the United Nations, millions of dollars from the trade of illicit tobacco reach to terror outfits such as the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda.

In addition to this are the  visible consequences of illicit trade such as adverse impact on innovation, investment and brand reputation.

However, the bigger concern is the manner in which counterfeiting and smuggling is impacting the social fabric of nations. This in turn is weakening their economic processes - an impact that seems too severe to tackle.

Euro Monitor International predicts that counterfeiting accounts for around five to seven per cent of world trade estimated at around $600 billion annually.

Though there have been incessant efforts by global organisations, governments and corporations to check illicit trade, it is not sufficient.

World Customs Organisation (WCO) estimated that approximately 3 billion pieces of counterfeit and pirated products were seized in 2013. Of these, more than half of the reported goods were illicit pharmaceutical products (2.3 billion pieces), followed by electronic appliances (470 million pieces), other taxable products (95 million) and foodstuff (50 million), amongst other commodities.

For other industries such as tobacco, a significant rise in illicit trade has been reported. It estimated that in 2012, illicit trade rose to 40 per cent making tobacco trafficking a serious issue for customs organisations.

Smuggling and counterfeiting is now a hurdle for growth for almost every sector in India. The presence of counterfeit specifically being highest in FMCG packaged foods, personal goods, mobile phones, alcoholic beverages, bottled water, pharmaceuticals, etc., causing billions of losses to industry and the government.

ASPA estimated the direct and indirect loss to the government from counterfeit goods at Rs392 billion in 2014 compared to Rs130 billion in 2012.  Findings from the report by FICCI Cascade suggests that illicit market in seven select manufacturing sectors including fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), tobacco, alcohol and mobile phones led to a loss of Rs39,239 crore during 2014.

Further, a detailed study of seven sectors in India conducted by FICCI  Cascade  has shown some interesting results on the size of  the illicit market and losses to industries. The estimated loss to these seven sectors increased by 44.4 per cent in two years, from Rs72,969 crore in 2011-12 to 1,05,381 crore in 2013-14.

eCommerce, a preferred place for illicit operators
Online marketplaces have become a preferred hub for illicit operators owing to their wider reach and ease of access. e-Commerce in India is growing substantially with increased traction of mobile telephony, rising internet penetration and disposable income levels.

While these factors underline the ongoing growth and huge potential in

e-commerce, at the same time, the challenges during logistics, cash on the delivery (COD) model and poor cyber laws act as a deterrent to the industry.

In this regard, global e-retailer Alibaba.com is a good example. To mitigate the challenges, the company by way of investment in to its processes, technology and imposition of heavy penalties for culprits has set up a notable example for other operators - a model that Indian firms can apply to their businesses.

However, in the absence of a specific e-commerce legislation in India and other laws including the Information Technology Act, Indian Contract Act, Companies Act, 2013, intellectual property, laws in copyrights and trademark etc, there are certain grey areas.

Therefore, there is need for a separate e-commerce law in the country.

According to Dr A. Didar Singh, secretary general, FICCI, "Given the emphasis on the current 'Make in India' campaign bringing in economic development and the much anticipated growth; an effort therefore needs to be made to examine how illegal trading activities can be curbed".

The most critical aspect that needs to be addressed in this area is the liability of sellers and the marketplace in case of counterfeit or smuggled products.

As the problem of counterfeiting and smuggling becomes global, there has been, in parallel, sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the global community has woken up to fight this menace.

Agreements signed under agencies such as the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Europol and measures such as custom controls, training and several joint operations being carried out in the direction have been highlighted in the relevant section of the report.

The launch of ''Make in India'' initiative by the Indian government intends to transform the country into a manufacturing hub. The plan has witnessed early success and has attracted foreign investments. The campaign, needless to mention, requires authentication of products to protect it from the perils of counterfeiting and ensure making it a complete success in the times to come.

Countering counterfeiting  and smuggling
The impacts of illicit trade and the associated activities of smuggling, piracy and counterfeiting can be long lasting.

Based on the ongoing trends and global endeavours undertaken worldwide to address smuggling and counterfeiting, certain key recommendations proposed in this regard include:

• Stringent enforcement and strengthening of the legal system
• Set up a nodal governance agency
• Increase consumer awareness
• Adopt of anti-counterfeit technologies
• Invest in research and development
• Collaboration