In 2006, by implementing the Famous Brand Strategy and protecting geographical indications, the Quality Supervision Bureaus (QSB) in GD strived to crack down on IPR infringement. In the year, 2 GD products acquired the title of China's World Famous Brands, hence increasing the accumulated number to 3 and accounting for 3/7 of the national total, ranking first nationwide. 79 products acquired the title of China Famous Brands, increasing the accumulated number to 221, accounting for 16.5 per cent of the national total and ranking first nationwide for six consecutive years. 314 industrial products acquired the title of GD Famous Brands and hence increased the accumulated number to 864. Meanwhile, GD Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation promoted the strategy of creating export brands and guided enterprises in creating their own export brands. Up to the end of 2006, 29 GD brands were listed by China Ministry of Commerce as 2005-2006 Famous Export Brands for Priority Cultivation and Development, among which, 18 were mechanical and electronic product brands, accounting for 1/4 of the national total.

QSBs across GD actively promoted the filing of applications for geological identifications. In 2006, eight products, including Dongpo Bacon, Xinhui Orange Peels, Xinhui Orange, Meizhou Grapefruit, Huazhou Orange, Yinde Black Tea and others, were granted Geographical Indication (GI) protection; an accumulated total of 22 products had received GI protection, ranking among the top few nationwide.

In 2006, GD QSBs, by integrating enforcement resources, intensified crackdown on IPR infringement. They established the Inspection Offices, built on a quick reaction mechanism for investigating IPR infringement cases, and launched many special operations on key products and areas, severely suppressing production of domestic or international brand products with fake origins, names and addresses of other factories, and fake quality signs and excellence indications. They investigated 2,205 cases of IPR infringement, up 23 per cent over the previous year, destroying 498 illegal plants. All the cases involved RMB 93.99 million worth of goods. Among the cases, 41 were transferred to the police.

The Food and Drug Administrations (FDAs) in GD strengthened IPR protection of drug, intensifying crackdown on production and sale of counterfeit medicine, medical instruments, medicinal foodstuffs, and cosmetics. In the year, the FDAs in GD investigated 8,105 cases of counterfeiting, hence destroying 188 production sites, confiscating 19.77 million RMB worth of goods, imposing a total penalty of 24.34 million RMB, and transferring 29 cases to the judicial authorities.

In 2006, GD Provincial Department of Agriculture increased its efforts to protect the IPR of new plant varieties and investigate such IPR infringement. According to incomplete statistics, 2,944 law enforcement persons were dispatched to rectify 312 markets and inspect 3,320 enterprises. 139 cases of infringement and counterfeit products were investigated and an economic loss of RMB 7.063 million was recovered. In addition, agriculture departments across GD increased their efforts to protect excellent new varieties and apply for new varieties of plants. In the year, 13 new plant varieties applications were filed and 3 were granted rights. 87 varieties passed provincial-level examination and 4 approved for provincial-level registration.

In the same year, in IPR protection of agricultural production materials like fertilizer, farming chemicals and machinery, the Agriculture authorities strengthened suppression of infringement and counterfeit. According to statistics, in such key markets, including fertilizer, farming chemicals, and farming machinery, 24,861 persons were dispatched for law enforcement in 1,873 markets and 20,853 enterprises. 1,420 cases of counterfeit products were investigated and an economic loss of 34.2 million RMB was recovered.

Editor: Wing