As core components of the machines are seriously worn after years of use, hazards lurk inside these shoddy commodities. They can cause fire, injury or death.

Producers of these fake home appliances are not necessarily illegal enterprises.

The fact they are sold in regular shops in tandem with genuine brands indicate these companies are also legally registered.

The problem lies in how they passed quality examinations to be granted a license to be sold in exclusive shops for the government subsidy scheme.

Solutions lie with local authorities.

Manufacturers of shoddy and fake products are mostly small companies that contribute significantly to local revenues. This contribution is very important to the growth of the local economy, which matters greatly to officials' work performance.

The officials also attach great importance to the companies' employment of local workers.

Criteria to gauge local officials' administrative performances are divided into two categories - the so-called "hard" ones, such as economic development; and the "soft" ones, such as environment protection.

The first category is called "hard" because they are more tangible and instantly effective; the second group is "soft" because they need longer to manifest, usually longer than a local leader's tenure.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth and employment are the two major hard indices. Local officials tend to give most of their concerns to these two indices. That explains why they favor local industrial enterprises and tend to protect them.

In the case of farmers being cheated with fake home appliances, local governments should not limit the punishment to mere financial penalties but should rather revoke licenses in the event of violations. For these counterfeit producers should be eradicated to protect farmers' consumer rights.

Only by eliminating such frauds can a healthy and favorable environment for development emerge.

And this will be a real boost to the local economy.

E-mail: liushinan@chinadaily.com.cn

About the author:

刘式南 高级编辑。1968年毕业于武汉华中师范学院（现华中师范大学）英文系。1982年毕业于北京体育学院（现北京体育大学）研究生院体育情报专业。1982年进入中国日报社，先后担任体育记者、时政记者、国际新闻编辑、要闻版责任编辑、发稿部主任、《上海英文星报》总编辑、《中国商业周刊》总编辑等职。现任《中国日报》总编辑助理及专栏作家。1997年获国务院“特殊贡献专家政府津贴”。2000年被中华全国新闻工作者协会授予“全国百佳新闻工作者”称号。2006年获中国新闻奖二等奖（编辑）。

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