Within the framework of the meeting of the FAS Expert Council, the White Book of best practices to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods on marketplaces was approved, the draft recommendations to prevent greenwashing and the problem of misleading information on cosmetics packaging were considered.
The White Book project on interaction between marketplaces and rights holders and sellers in the context of preventing the sale of counterfeit goods on marketplaces has been prepared by members of the Russian Corporate Counsel Association (RCCA) in cooperation with the FAS of Russia. The document is based on the application of previously accepted good practices of interaction between marketplaces and right holders and sellers. The document is based on the analysis of numerous successful cases.
The book contains 20 best practices with a detailed description of the actions of the applicant, marketplace and seller and the result of these actions.
“The examples given will help to streamline the approaches of market participants to filing complaints on marketplace platforms. This will help to stop actions that violate intellectual rights or create a threat of such violation in connection with the sale of counterfeit goods,”
the FAS press release said.
In addition, participants of the Expert Council for the Protection of Competition on Financial Markets of the FAS of Russia considered the issue of preventing greenwashing. This marketing ploy is used to position a product as environmentally friendly, but in fact it is not. It is used by unscrupulous manufacturers to attract consumers by deceiving their expectations.
FAS of Russia has submitted for consideration draft recommendations to prevent greenwashing, which contains general principles, requirements for eco-labeling, types of environmental statements, consequences of non-compliance with these criteria. Industry experts have made their suggestions, comments and recommendations to supplement the draft. The Service will finalize the document taking into account these recommendations.
Also discussed were new unfair practices related to the placement of information on the packaging of cosmetic products that creates a misconception about the country of origin. Such behavior may be considered as misleading, which falls within the scope of violation of Article 14.2 of the Law on Protection of Competition. The Service reminded that in order to effectively protect market participants, it considers all such cases.
Source: FAS