Counterfeit clothing valued at more than £15,000 has been re-branded and donated to good causes in Neath Port Talbot.
The clothes, which have been seized by Trading Standards officers throughout the UK, are being donated by the His Church charity and will be distributed to charitable causes in the county borough.
His Church are distributing the goods as a thank you gesture to Neath Port Talbot Trading Standards who have donated several tonnes of counterfeit goods to the charity for re-branding and re-distributing across the UK.
West Glamorgan Council for Drug and Alcohol Abuse (WGCADA) and the Housing Option Service Neath Port Talbot Council, which helps homeless people, will receive food, washing materials, clothes and footwear. Several domestic abuse charities will receive a share of the clothing, footwear, washing materials and food, but will also receive children’s toys, all of which have been kindly donated by the manufacturers themselves.
Principal trading standards officer Steve Adie said counterfeit goods, such as footwear, clothing and DVDs, can be re-branded and distributed to good causes with the permission of the manufacturers.
He said: “His Church are a charity which specialises in re-branding and distributing counterfeit goods seized throughout the UK.
“We got in touch to see if they could make use of the tonnes of counterfeit goods we have seized in Neath Port Talbot.
“The logos on the goods will be permanently obscured or removed and they are then donated to various good causes.
“Anything which is deemed as unsafe and cannot be recycled will be destroyed.”
Mr Adie said the disposal of counterfeit goods generally has an adverse effect on the environment as many of the items are destroyed or sent to landfill. The solution to donate the goods to His Charity solves this problem.
Counterfeit CDs or DVDs can be granulated and made into pencils.
Leader of Council Ali Thomas said this is great example of organisations working together to help those that need it most.
“Our Trading Standards officers are working tirelessly to protect consumers from unfair trading practices,” he said. “Seizing counterfeit goods in Neath Port Talbot will protect our local businesses from unfair competition, which, in turn, would have a positive impact on the local economy.
“Counterfeit crime is estimated to cost the UK economy more than £3bn a year and threatens legitimate businesses and British jobs.
“I am glad to see that something positive is coming out of a negative act.
“I am sure that the charities concerned will make good use of the goods and donate them to those who need it the most.”
