Visitors to the Gardeners World Live 2009 show later this month at the NEC, Birmingham, will be able to check out the latest counterfeit designer goods at the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) stand – and find out why parents and their children should be wary of buying fake items in an industry that costs the UK economy an estimated £9 billion a year.
Among the exhibits will be imported counterfeit games consoles found to have been supplied with potentially dangerous power adaptors. Aimed at the younger market, they had been sold for around £40 but proved to be anything but a bargain.<br><br>HMRC’s exhibition stand will also feature counterfeit clothing, accessories and DVDs. 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.<br><br>Staff will also be on hand to help with queries about tax credits, child benefit, income tax and self assessment. In addition advice will be available to businesses on a whole range of issues.<br><br>Liz Challand, national exhibitions officer for HMRC, said: "This is the first time we have taken part in this event and we are looking forward to meeting those coming to the show. 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 that 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."<br><br>The Gardeners World Live 2009 runs on Wednesday, 10 June to Sunday, 14 June 2009, at the NEC, Birmingham; HMRC at stand no E499. The event is open from 9am to 6pm.<br><br>Notes <br><br>Officers from UKBA and HMRC have the right to detain imported goods which they believe to be counterfeit and if they are confirmed as such by the intellectual property rights owner – the goods are usually seized and then destroyed. This means that the customer who has purchased the items – whether they were aware of the items lack of authenticity or not – will not receive the item. Customers may also have to pay import duty and VAT on certain items before they can be delivered.<br><br>(It is estimated that this type of crime costs the UK economy around GBP £9 billion each year (source: http://www.ipo.gov.uk).
Also at Malvern
The HMRC stand is also at the Three Counties Show – on Friday, 19 June, to Sunday, 21 June 2009, at The Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, Stand 197, Avenue D. The event is open from 8am to 6pm.
