The General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression (CCF) has warned it will pursue legal action against individuals who are found to have counterfeited tobacco products.

In a September 9 notice, The Ministry of Commerce's CCF said it has received numerous complaints of counterfeited tobacco products and cigarette brands being sold in the Kingdom.

The notice said that such activities violated the Law on Marks, Trade Names and Acts of Unfair Competition, the Law on the Management of Quality and Safety of Products and Services, the Consumer Protection Law, and Competition Law, as well as several international laws and regulations.

The notice added that these actions cost the nation’s economy and undermined the trust of investors who conduct business in Cambodia.

The CCF reminded business owners, vendors and distributors of tobacco products to comply with the laws and standard documents in force. They should join the CCF in preventing offences connected with counterfeited tobacco and cigarette brands.

“If we discover anyone committing offences of this nature, we will prosecute them to the full extent of the law – without exception,” said the CCF.