Consumer Group Cries 'Crisis' Over Counterfeit Goods on Philippine E-commerce

Advocacy group Malayang Konsyumer on Tuesday sounded the alarm on the proliferation of counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms, describing the problem as a "full-blown consumer protection crisis." The group is calling for consistent and decisive enforcement of existing laws and online marketplace regulations. In a statement, Malayang Konsyumer Convenor Mark Jansen Magsano said, "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." Magsano stated that 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. 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," Magsano noted, adding, "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." Malayang Konsyumer warned that fake goods, ranging from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to children's toys and household adhesives, pose severe risks to the public. These include exposure to toxic chemicals in cosmetics, ineffective or harmful ingredients in medicines, and fire or structural hazards from substandard electronics and industrial adhesives. 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," Magsano emphasized. 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," Magsano said. 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." Magsano stated, "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."