News

Fake goods cost UK economy £9bn a year

UK HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is planning to put on a show of counterfeit goods at this year's BBC Good Food Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham later this month.

UK HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is planning to put on a show of counterfeit goods at this year's BBC Good Food Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham later this month.

The government agency warned today that the sale of such goods costs the UK economy £9bn a year, as well as exposing consumers to potentially serious risks from dangerous products.

Among the exhibits will be imported counterfeit games consoles found to have been supplied with potentially dangerous power adaptors.

HMRC's exhibition stand will also feature smuggled and restricted food items and counterfeit alcohol that have been seized. In addition, visitors will be able to see counterfeit clothing and fashion accessories including handbags and watches. All of these items pose a potential threat to local businesses selling the genuine article, but the lack of regulation also puts consumers at risk of receiving poor quality and potentially unsafe goods, HMRC warned.

Liz Challand, National Exhibitions Manager for HMRC, said: "Anyone visiting our stand will have a perfect opportunity to get information about the many issues dealt with by HMRC, from benefits to fuel fraud. Our counterfeit exhibits will also make it clear buying cheap, fake goods feeds an illegal, unregulated supply of often second rate goods. I am sure that they will find it interesting - and perhaps surprising - to find out the true scope of our work."

The BBC Good Food show takes place on Wednesday, 25 November to Sunday, 29 November 2009 at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, Stand E70. The event is open from 9am to 6pm each day.