The administration initiated a crackdown on fake products in April in 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian, where there have been illegal market practices.

Statistics indicate that a total of 20,000 cases involving 400 million yuan (US$48.3 million) worth of fake goods have been dealt with between April and the end of May this year.

The crackdown has focused on fake agricultural products, illegally assembled automobiles and pyramid schemes, according to sources with the administration.

Counterfeit and shoddy agriculture products, such as seeds and chemical fertilizers, have been the source of major complaints from the country's farmers.

A total of 9,339 cases involving the production and sale of fake agricultural products have been dealt with during the period.

Industry and commerce authorities have also handled 8,200 complaints from farmers about such products, retrieving nearly 50 million yuan (US$6 million) for them.

The move was launched in response to the State Council’s call in April to fight against illegal activities, such as producing and selling counterfeit goods. All relevant departments, including industry and commerce authorities and quality supervision authorities, have joined the crackdown.

More than 280,000 industry and commerce officials have taken part in the campaign. The quality of Chinese products has risen greatly because the issue has been given much attention over recent years, according to officials.

However, counterfeit goods have not yet been completely eradicated. In some places there are still many fake goods which threatens market order and infringes upon the interests and rights of enterprises.

(chinadaily.com.cn 06/06/2001)