Front row, Mike Walsh and Dolores Riordan from Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards sign the charter. Back row Councillors NinaJeffries, Jackie Hook (Devon County Councillor for Newton Abbot North) and Councillor Rufus Gilbert.

At the launch, Market Manager, Mike Walsh and trader Diane Smith talk about the benefits of the Real Deal Charter. Watch the video here – https://youtu.be/Fdqst1b0KW8

Newton Abbot Market is committed to fake-free trading and has signed the Real Deal National Markets Charter with Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service. By signing the charter, the market and its stallholders are reaffirming their commitment that fake and other illicit goods are not welcome.

The Teignbridge District Council-owned market includes both the indoor and outdoor town centre markets and the weekday food hall.

Currently there are more than 500 markets across the country that have signed the voluntary charter. The charter provides guidance, information and promotional support to trading standards and market operators to ensure that markets are free of counterfeit and other illegal goods

Trading standards has a statutory responsibility to protect consumers from the sale of illegal goods.

Counterfeit and illicit goods are often of inferior quality, and in most cases unsafe as they have not gone through the same rigorous safety checks that legitimate goods go through. Their sale can damage consumer confidence and legitimate businesses, because they infringe existing intellectual property rights.

Mike Walsh, Market Manager said: “It is important for our customers to know that they are purchasing good quality products that are safe and reasonably priced. When the opportunity arose to be part of the Real Deal Campaign we welcomed it, the sale of fake and illicit goods can have an adverse impact on business and reputation and it is important that customers can shop here with confidence.”

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