Intensified crackdown on counterfeit goods online pushed amid health, safety hazards

MANILA, Philippines — A consumer advocacy group has called on authorities to launch an immediate, sustained and resolute crackdown on the proliferation of fake goods in e-commerce platforms. In a letter addressed to Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director General Teodoro Pascua, Malayang Konsyumer stressed that while e-commerce platforms have reported high takedown rates of online shops selling counterfeit products, the digital marketplace remains heavily flooded with dangerous, unregulated imitations. Earlier, Lazada reported a proactive takedown rate of 85.5% against counterfeit listings from June 2024 and May 2025, while Shopee posted a 93.6% proactive removal rate on its platform. The Department of Trade and Industry’s E-Commerce Bureau, meanwhile, earlier reported that it issued 171 Takedown Orders and 67 Compliance Orders from June to December 2025. And in the first half of 2026, the bureau issued 268 more Takedown Orders and 105 Compliance Orders. Despite such regulatory action, the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights’ (NCIPR) still seized a staggering Php18.64 billion in counterfeit goods from June 2024 to May 2025. “The glaring truth could no longer be denied nor glossed over: the digital marketplace has become a 24/7 open market for dangerous, unregulated imitations. Our members experience this regularly when shopping online, encountering pirated or trademark-infringing goods that carry both intellectual property and consumer safety implications,” said Mark Jansen Magsano, convenor of Malayang Konsyumer. The group warned that these online “leakages” pose severe, immediate health and safety risks to Filipino families, highlighting several high-risk product categories flagged by their members. These include medicines, vitamins, health supplements, and beauty products that may contain toxic chemicals. The group also cited substandard electronics and gadgets that may lead to fire and electrocution hazards, along with household adhesives, sealants and other building materials that may cause both structural failure and toxic inhalation. Malayang Konsyumer also cited knock-offs of popular retail goods such as clothing, footwear, toys and perfume, which may expose consumers to hidden health hazards. “It is clear that while e-commerce platforms and government agencies have already taken action, these efforts are not enough. The IPOPHL is uniquely positioned to bridge safety gaps by fully deploying its statutory powers under the Intellectual Property Code,” said Magsano. The group appealed to the IPOPHL to undertake stricter enforcement, including motu proprio investigations targeting online channels, issuance of compliance and takedown orders, coordinating with the National Telecommunications Commission to enforce site-blocking, and pushing for the cancellation of business permits for repeat violators. IPOPHL’s Bureau of Legal Affairs should also issue cease-and-desist orders, execute the seizure and condemnation of infringing goods, forfeit manufacturing paraphernalia, and impose maximum administrative fines, while also fully utilizing provisions against unfair competition, trademark infringement, and digital piracy. “Filipino consumers deserve a digital marketplace that is safe —one where sellers comply with intellectual property regulations and violators are held accountable. Allowing the status quo to fester exposes consumers to health and safety hazards. Let us not wait for the worst case to happen before taking drastic action,” said Magsano. (Contributed story)