Crackdown in Wales on counterfeit goods sold in social media buying-and-selling groups

With the festive season approaching, an important initiative has been put in place to curb the sale of fake goods on local social media groups.

The Real Deal Online programme, a national campaign, is strengthening efforts to protect local consumers and small businesses from the burgeoning trade in counterfeit goods on social media buying-and-selling platforms.

During the run-up to Christmas, Trading Standards across Wales will be bolstered by support from the National Markets Group, Intellectual Property Office, and National Trading Standards eCrime Team to identify social media groups engaged in buying-and-selling activities.

Administrators of these groups will be contacted to make them aware of their legal responsibilities and to encourage them to adopt the Real Deal Online Code of Practice.

The Code of Practice outlines five straightforward steps for group administrators, including prohibiting the sale of counterfeit goods, acting on information from intellectual property rights owners, notifying trading standards of illicit sales, posting warnings and advice from trading standards, and maintaining a fake-free policy within the group.

Groups that agree to follow the Real Deal Code of Practice will be permitted to display the Real Deal logo, providing a visual assurance to shoppers and traders that they are engaging in a fake-free shopping zone.

The Real Deal campaign has been successful in physical markets and car boot fairs since 2009, with over 500 markets across the UK signing up to the voluntary Real Deal Charter.

Given this success, the campaign has extended into the online realm, with local authority Trading Standards Services across the UK now rolling it out to digital marketplaces.

Judith Parry, Chair of Trading Standards Wales, stated, “This programme demonstrates that Trading Standards are engaged in seeking out those who advertise fake goods on social media sites and will take appropriate action against them.” She encourages group administrators to engage in the project and seek advice from Trading Standards.

Gavin Terry, Chair of the National Markets Group for IP Protection, and Mike Andrews, National Co-ordinator of the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, both highlighted the risks and issues associated with illicit trade online, emphasizing the benefits of the programme in deterring illegal trade linked to organised crime.

The initiative calls for buy-sell group administrators who wish to join the Real Deal Online Code of Practice to reach out to their local Trading Standards Service for support and guidance in running their groups legally and responsibly.

For more information on the Real Deal campaign, visit www.realdealmarkets.co.uk.