Nine markets and shopping centres have today joined forces in a pledge to stamp out fake and counterfeit goods being sold in the borough.
Representatives from Dudley Market; Dudley and Halesowen Plaza Malls; Cornbow Centre, Halesowen; Brierley Hill Indoor Market; Crown Centre and Ryemarket, Stourbridge; Merry Hill Centre and Stourbridge Farmers Market are signing up to the Real Deal Charter.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow (centre), cabinet member responsible for trading standards, with representatives from markets and shopping centres in the borough
By pledging, they are reaffirming their commitment that fake and other illicit goods are not welcome on their stalls or in their shops.
Currently there are more than 500 markets and retail centres across the country that have signed the voluntary charter.
Tudor Markets, which run markets in Dudley and Stourbridge, have signed up to the charter
It provides guidance, information and support to trading standards and retail operators to ensure that markets and shops are free of counterfeit and other illegal goods.
The initiative is a partnership between trading standards, market and retail operators and the National Markets Group (NMG) for Intellectual Property.
By signing up, operators have pledged to comply with a Code of Practice committing to vet all traders, have identity checks carried out on tenants and take all necessary action to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods in their markets and shops.
This includes evicting tenants promptly if counterfeit goods are found.
Dudley Council’s trading standards has also committed through the charter to support the markets and traders, providing them with advice and making regular visits to monitor compliance with the charter.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and adult social care, said:
Graham Mogg, ACG Intelligence Coordinator and Chair of the National Markets Group for IP (NMG) said:
