Under the new Decree 08/2013/ND-CP, trading of fake goods shall be fined between VND 100,000 and VND 70 million while a fine of up to VND 100 million shall be imposed for production of counterfeit goods.

If the counterfeit goods are food, foodstuff, medicine, livestock food, fertilizer, plant varieties and breedings, cosmetics, medical equipment, cement, steel, safety hamlets, the above fine levels shall be doubled.

Counterfeit foods shall be revoked, destroyed or re-exported, according to the new Decree.

Legal assistance for poor households

The Government has promulgated Decree 14/2013/ND-CP which stipulates that near-poor households shall be assisted to participate in legal assistance clubs.

Through legal consultancy, these clubs would help improve people’s awareness of legal regulations so that they can protect their own legitimate rights and interests.

Financial and accommodation assistance

Secondary pupils in extremely disadvantaged areas will be provided with financial and accommodation assistance, according to the Prime Minister’s Decision 12/2013/QD-TTg.

Beneficiaries who are ethnic pupils have to meet three conditions, namely real attendance in secondary schools, parents or guardians being permanent residents in such disadvantaged areas, and residential houses being far from schools./.