Counterfeit goods

What Trading Standards does

Trading Standards has enforcement powers under the Trademarks Act to investigate allegations of counterfeit goods been sold. Producing and selling goods for financial gain by using a trademark without the owner’s permission are crimes which carry heavy penalties, including substantial fines and imprisonment.

The reasons why we take complaints so seriously are:

• counterfeit electrical goods can be unsafe and cause injury
• websites advertising counterfeit goods can compromise your personal details
• proceeds of counterfeit goods sales go to fund serious criminal activity such as funding drugs, terrorism, slavery and child labour
• counterfeiting damages the businesses of the manufacturers of the genuine items, and the livelihood of their employees

If you need consumer advice after purchasing counterfeit goods, please visit the ADS (Advice Direct Scotland webpage)