The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) has inked an agreement with the government aimed at combating the proliferation of counterfeit goods, especially automotive parts, being sold online.

CAMPI is latest signatory of the e-commerce memorandum of understanding (MOU) facilitated by the country’s anti-piracy watchdog, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel Arevalo said CAMPI, which is composed of 35 automotive companies, represents a “major milestone” in advancing road safety nationwide.

Aside from violating the IP rights of legitimate manufacturers, Arevalo said using counterfeit spare parts is a direct threat to public safety.

“Whether in vehicles, electrical systems, or machinery, a single defective part can endanger not just property but people's lives,” he said in a media event on Friday, Dec. 12.

In a 2023 report by the Washington, DC-based International Trade Administration (ITA), the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard automotive parts and accessories was identified as a major challenge to the local automotive aftermarket industry.

The ITA said the easy availability of fraudulent aftermarket products such as replacement parts, accessories, chemicals, equipment, and accessories poses grave risks to consumers.

This year, IPOPHL data showed that out of the 44 counterfeit related reports that it had received from IP holders, only two were related to automotive products.

Arevalo said the e-commerce MOU with CAMPI is the government’s response to further weed out these fake products.

The e-commerce MOU establishes a voluntary code of practice aimed at enhancing the collaboration among signatories.

This sets up an efficient notice-and-takedown mechanism with the online signatory platforms, namely Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, and TikTok Shop.

Through this process, Arevalo said the IP rights of automotive industry are fully protected, noting that “this will contribute to their economic gain,” which would foster ingenuity to produce more products.

CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez said joining the e-commerce MOU reflects the industry group’s commitment to promote industry-wide safety standards, ensuring that only genuine, high-quality automotive parts are utilized.

Gutierrez also underscored that the agreement demonstrates CAMPI’s pledge to cultivate responsible online trade, where brand integrity and legitimate businesses are protected.

“As the e-commerce environment continuously evolves, brand owners, regulators, and online e-commerce platforms must work together in ensuring that only safe, genuine, and quality products reach the consumers,” he said.

CAMPI is the 112th signatory of the e-commerce MOU, marking the 11th industry group to join the IPOPHL-led initiative.

Aside from the aforementioned four online platforms, 97 brand owners have since signed up for the agreement since it was first launched in 2021.