Singapore Customs has seized over 5,000 bags of trademark-infringing rice from a shipment that was imported from India to Singapore on Thursday (24 November).
It said that the proprietor of the Singapore-registered trade mark, who suspected that the bags of rice were counterfeit goods infringing its trademark, lodged a notice with Singapore Customs to object to the importation of the goods pursuant to Section 82 of the Trade Marks Act.
Subsequently, Singapore Customs then intercepted five 20-foot containers, which were carrying the shipment of over 5,000 bags of rice weighing about 129 tonnes at the Pasir Panjang Terminal.
Singapore Customs said that it seized the rice after an inspection revealed that their packaging bore a sign similar to the registered trade mark in question. The trade mark proprietor has confirmed the rice to be counterfeit goods and is in the process of taking legal action against the importer of the goods.
It stated that as the authority responsible for border enforcement of intellectual property rights, Singapore Customs is committed to working closely with rights holders, the trading community, and relevant government agencies to maintain a robust regime for the protection of intellectual property rights in Singapore.
