Guinness, partners seek action against fake goods

Guinness Nigeria Plc, in partnership with the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria, hosted industry leaders, regulators, and brand owners to address the escalating threat of counterfeit goods. The high-level engagement, held at Guinness's Lagos headquarters on World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, focused on "Combating Counterfeiting in an AI-Driven and Digitally Connected World."

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Counterfeiting is no longer confined to physical markets or isolated supply chains. It has grown into a highly sophisticated, transnational enterprise, leveraging e-commerce platforms, social networks, and advanced AI tools to produce, promote, and distribute counterfeit goods with alarming efficiency.

Rotimi Odusola, Corporate Relations and Legal Director at Guinness Nigeria, speaking on behalf of MD and CEO Girish Sharma, highlighted how counterfeiting has evolved into a sophisticated, transnational enterprise. "Counterfeiting is no longer confined to physical markets or isolated supply chains. It has grown into a highly sophisticated, transnational enterprise, leveraging e-commerce platforms, social networks, and advanced AI tools to produce, promote, and distribute counterfeit goods with alarming efficiency," he stated.

Odusola noted that while technology empowers counterfeiters, it also provides essential tools for detection, intelligence sharing, and enforcement. The event featured a keynote address by Sola Dosumu, Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria, and a panel discussion on technology-enabled counterfeit networks. Panelists, including Tessy Ojomo from the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), stressed the importance of robust enforcement and regulatory compliance, warning e-commerce operators about legal consequences for non-compliance with SON certification.

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She said stricter penalties and SON certification have become key deterrents and warned e-commerce operators to ensure all listed products comply with SON certification requirements to avoid legal consequences.

Dr. Martins Iluyomade from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) indicated that ongoing enforcement efforts would yield stronger outcomes against those enabling counterfeit trade. He urged brand owners to actively protect their brands. Discussions also covered emerging risks, investigation challenges, and the need for evolving legal frameworks. Participants reached a consensus that tackling counterfeiting requires coordinated efforts.

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He urged brand owners to take ownership of their brands and remain firm in confronting counterfeit operators.