Paper tissue consumption in Vietnam is expected to increase annually at a rate of 12.5 percent until 2015, reaching 150,000 tonnes, according to speakers at a conference on paper consumption held recently in HCM City.

Nguyen Hoang Nam, sales director for the Sai Gon Paper Joint-Stock Company, said by then per capita tissue consumption would reach one kilo a year.

Per capita tissue consumption in Vietnam in 2007 was about 0.48 kilos, while in Japan it was 14.25 kilos and Taiwan-13.62 kilos.

With the economy growing, demand for higher grade tissue will increase, and, as a result, a shortage could occur in the next five years, he said.

The market for consumer paper, including toilet tissue, napkin tissue and facial tissue, has great diversity in design, type, brands and original source.

According to the latest statistics compiled by Nielsen, a market research company, there are about 432 consumer paper brands on the domestic market.

They vary in quality and many are made from materials or by technologies that do not ensure hygiene and safety, especially for children.

Dr Vu Ngoc Bao, general secretary of the Vietnam Paper and Pulp Association, said that many small businesses still use chlorine during their production process.

In addition, fake and imitation goods are another issue, said Nguyen Lam Vien, deputy chairman of the High-Quality Vietnamese Goods Club.

Many large tissue brands have complained of the increasing number of goods that copy their products.

To ensure consumer health and more transparency for the market, the Government should develop regulations on the paper-tissue market so that agencies can better control the market, many delegates at the conference said.

Currently, only Vietnamese standards are applied in classifying consumer paper products, Bao said.

Cao Tien Vi, director of the Sai Gon Paper Joint-Stock Company, said Decree 97 issued last August on fake goods contains stiff provisions that punish violators, but many violators had not been charged because of a lack of inspection staff./.

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