Today (06/06) is World Anti Counterfeiting Day and Birmingham Trading Standards is warning football fans preparing for the World Cup 2018 to be careful when buying England merchandise after seizing counterfeit England shirts.
Working with colleagues at East Midlands Airport, officers have intercepted hundreds of counterfeit World Cup England ‘three lions’ T-shirts worth thousands of pounds, destined for distribution in and around Birmingham.
Sajeela Naseer, Head of Birmingham Trading Standards, said: “England’s famous three lions badge is a trademarked symbol and any unofficial products which feature this is counterfeit
Our Trading Standards team aim to disrupt this illicit multi-million-pound black market business that fuels organised crime and is linked to child labour & modern day slavery. Counterfeiting also threatens the British economy in terms of lost profits and tax revenues.
These products may be tempting because they look like a bargain but Trading Standards officers are warning consumers to be careful when buying such cheap poor quality products and paying the full price for inferior merchandise.
Trading Standards will now investigate these importers and legal proceedings may be brought against any suppliers involved in such illegal activity. If convicted of offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994, the maximum sentence is an unlimited fine or up to 10 years jail.”
Anyone with information about this activity or the supply of other counterfeit goods should report this to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0345 4040506.
