FAIR Competition Commission (FCC) has seized a stock of 728 counterfeit pipes worth of 8.7m/- from four out of seven shops inspected on Wednesday, this week at Kariakoo Business District area in Dar es Salaam Region.

Briefing reporters in the city, an FCC official, Mr John Essau Mponde said the operation targeted at shops and warehouses suspected to stock counterfeited IPS PVC pipes and the operation was conducted in collaboration with the police force and local representatives of the products brand owners.

"We found Nicas August Ngallo Hardware Building Material with a stock of 97 pieces, Sospeter Deus Mashauri 56 quantities, Zamzam Ltd (BSP) 504 pipes and Shaban Omar Mnenke with 71 pieces," he said.

Mr Mponde said that the operation followed a letter from IPS and Nabaki Africa dated June 26, this year complaining on infringement of intellectual property right by some construction material outlets in Kariakoo area.

He further added that FCC was acting under the powers conferred upon it by the Merchandise Marks Act of 1963 section 6 as amended.

Likewise, he said IPS Argentina in collaboration with local authorised distributor, Nabaki Africa have undertaken an extensive market survey to identify fake IPS pipes.

"All owners whose shops were found with counterfeit brands of IPS PVC pipes were served with notices and their goods seized," said Mr Mponde.

He explained that the exercise was a part of the government's commitment to clean off the market of counterfeit goods, calling on members of public to expose those involved. Mr Mponde added that the operation was sustainable and warned all traders to stop trading counterfeit goods.