WE WATCH FAKE PARTS— SMMT • Your correspondent C. Hinchcliffe
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
(CM, April 5) is wrong to assume that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders pays no a tention to the problems of counterfeiters in the UK mar ket. We are constantly aware of the spurious parts market and encourage our members to be vigilant in their purchas nig policies to avoid the very problems he outlines.
SMMT members have not reported any extensive difficulties from counterfeits produced in the UK or Europe, but non-members may not have had the benefit of SMMT publicity and information on the subject. We wouk value details of their experiences.
We have encouraged members to take civil action when appropriate and some do so most emphatically — despite the horrendous cost — to preserve goodwill.
We also liaise with Trading Standard Authorities with a view to their prosecuting those who infringe the Trade Descriptions Act. The presen criminal law does not, however, acknowledge the existence of commercial counterfeiting and the result is paltry fines under the Act.
Domestically, we are very much behind the Anti-Counterfeiting Group's efforts to in troduce legislation to bring commercial counterfeiting within the criminal code. This follows the USA example, introduced in 1984, which has helped stamp out rampant counterfeiting activities there.
We welcome the involvement of any other organisations concerned with this dubious activity. We link up al ready with the Motor Agents' Association, but the two mentioned in Mr Hinchcliffe's letter, the Motor Factors' Association and the Institute c Road Transport Engineers, may be able to provide interesting input to the subject. Anthony Fraser Director SMMT, London, SW1