This Office has received reports that fake/imitation consumer products are often sold on sidewalks by ambulant peddlers and in busy public markets at big discounts and special offers.  These are adulterated and misbranded products which is in violation of R. A. 3720 as amended.

For the information and guidance of all concerned, hereunder are distinguishing characteristics which was provided us by the industry of fake consumer products in plastic bottles or containers, such as shampoos, deodorants and talc powders.  Unlike the genuine product on cursory inspection of the packaging, the fake products are characterized:

	(a)	as dirty and scuffed; the containers used for fake products are re-used containers collected from garbage dumps.
	(b)	presence of abrasion marks and dents; to open and refill the containers, the caps or sifters have to be pried open leaving marks and dents near the neck area.
	(c)	wrinkled or faded labels for containers with paper or plastic labels; partially erased marking where such markings are directly printed on containers.

You are hereby instructed to monitor these suspected adulterated and misbranded products in your areas of assignment and to collect samples for laboratory analysis where they maybe found.

Adopted: 24 July 1991

(SGD.) QUINTIN L. KINTANAR
Director
Assistant Secretary of Health
For Standards and Regulation