Dangerous goods bound for the streets of Tyneside have been detained by National Trading Standards and will be destroyed after a stash of more than 1,000 items was impounded at the Port of Felixstowe.
Dangerous goods bound for the streets of Tyneside have been detained by National Trading Standards and will be destroyed after a stash of more than 1,000 items was impounded at the Port of Felixstowe. The items included children’s fancy-dress costumes – expected to be popular ahead of Halloween – and toys, onesies, hats, seats, teddy bears and other cuddly toys including popular Disney characters.
The goods – some of which were hazardous while others were marked with fake trademarks – were ordered over the internet by a Newcastle businesswoman and were shipped to Felixstowe from China. An undercover operation by the National Trading Standards Safety at Ports and Borders team uncovered the dangerous items and has prohibited them from entering the supply chain.
Newcastle Trading Standards has spoken to the individual who purchased the goods and informed her that they would be destroyed. No action has been taken against the woman, who acted in good faith but lost out financially as a result of her having her items detained and destroyed.
Cabinet Member for Regulation, Cllr Nick Kemp, said: “Some of these items are clearly dangerous so I am relieved they did not end up in the hands of young children.
“It’s a great example of partnership working between the port, National Trading Standards and our own Trading Standards here on Newcastle.
“The importation of fake goods goes up in the run up to Christmas so to get such a substantial haul like this so early in the season is a great success.”
David Ellerington, the council’s Trading Standards Manager, said: “Trading Standards are always grateful to receive information on any issues that protect consumers and also our legitimate businesses.
“We are pleased with the response from the business which imported these goods and which has now allowed us to remove these goods from the market.”
Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “Protecting consumers from unsafe products is a priority of National Trading Standards, particularly when it comes to the safety of children and young people. That’s why we are funding this important work so that it is as difficult as possible for harmful, unsafe products to be available on the high street.
“It’s also important to remember that, if you are buying online for onward sale, you assume the legal responsibilities of a business to ensure that what you’re selling complies with product safety and intellectual property legislation. If you do suspect any sellers or websites of selling unsafe goods or if you have received a product that you consider to be unsafe, I urge you to report it to Citizen’s Advice on 03454 04 05 06.”
National Trading Standards Board provides leadership influence, support and resources to help combat damage to consumers and businesses locally, regionally and nationally.
Meanwhile, only last month, Newcastle Trading Standards seized fake handbags, scarves and jewellery with an estimated street value of more than £5,000 from a Newcastle shop following a tip-off from a shopper.
Notes to Editors
About National Trading Standards
National Trading Standards delivers national and regional consumer protection enforcement. Its Board is made up of senior and experienced heads of local government trading standards from around England and Wales with an independent Chair. Its purpose is to protect consumers and safeguard legitimate businesses by tackling serious national and regional consumer protection issues and organised criminality and by providing a “safety net” to limit unsafe consumer goods entering the UK and protecting food supplies by ensuring the animal feed chain is safe.