Left to right – Brian Wilson (Stirling Council Trading Standards), Hillary Barker (Stirling Farmers Market), Peter Ross (Ross Markets), Councillor Danny Gibson (Stirling Council), Jim Morrison (Ross Markets), Catherine Ross (Ross Markets) and Bernard Barker (Stirling Farmers Market).
Stirling Council, the operators of the Millhall Sunday Market, and the monthly Stirling Farmers’ Market in the city centre, have signed the Real Deal Charter for Safe Fair Markets. This is part of the national ‘Real Deal’ campaign aimed at keeping sellers of fake goods away from markets and car boot sales.
The Real Deal is a partnership between local authority Trading Standards services, market operators, industry groups, and copyright and trade mark owners, to ensure markets are free of counterfeit and other illegal goods. This will allow consumers and legitimate dealers to shop and trade in safety and with confidence.
National figures show that eighty percent of the proceeds of counterfeit goods, which are always of poorer quality and in some cases dangerous, are used to fund serious organised crime including people smuggling, prostitution and terrorism.
Ross Markets, who operate Millhall Sunday Market, and the Stirling Farmers’ Market are among the first market operators in Scotland to sign the Real Deal Charter.
Councillor Danny Gibson, Stirling Council’s Environment Committee Convenor, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer the Real Deal Charter to the operators of the Millhall Sunday Market and the Stirling Farmers’ Market.
“By signing this pledge, the operators are assuring consumers that they will not permit the stallholders at their markets to sell counterfeit goods and I would encourage local residents to support them.”
Liz Bales, Director General of the Industry Trust for IP Awareness, which initiated the Real Deal campaign, said: “On behalf of all the stakeholders in the Real Deal, I am delighted that these two very different markets have joined with Stirling Council’s Trading Standards Service to offer the Real Deal assurance.
“It demonstrates that markets of all types and sizes can introduce these simple but robust procedures to ensure that shoppers, market stall-holders and local businesses are protected from those attempting to sell fakes and other illegal goods. We encourage other councils and markets in Scotland to introduce the Real Deal charter and demonstrate their commitment to fake-free shopping and fair trading.”
Additional information:
For more information on Stirling Council Trading Standards Service visit www.stirling.gov.uk/services/business-and-trade/trading-standards or call 0845 277 7000.
Ross Markets operate a Sunday Market and Car Boot Sale at Millhall Market, Springkerse, Stirling.
Stirling Farmers Market (www.stirlingfarmersmarket.co.uk) is held in Port Street, Stirling, on the second Saturday of every month and more frequently in November and December.