Origin Marking

Origin Marking

Spring 2018 Origin marking Best of British Sales of ceramic souvenirs soar with a royal wedding, but you must be clear about the provenance of your Prince Harry plates and Meghan mugs With the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle due to take place at Windsor Castle on 19 May, the nations thoughts turn to all things British. The ceramics industry, in particular, has a long association with royal weddings, and there has been a flurry of manufacturing to produce souvenirs to commemorate the event. With the increased public interest in such goods, businesses are reminded of the importance of accurate descriptions when it comes to origin marking and trade marks. As a general rule, if you recognise a brand or image, its probably registered References to origin or place of production must not be misleading. For example, Joe Bloggs Pottery Stoke on Trent infers that the ceramic (white ware) has been made in Stoke on Trent potteries. If this is not the case, you may find yourself in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, which cover geographical or commercial origin of a product. If a stage in your items production such as decorating takes place in a location that adds value, you simply need to separate the description of that process and location from the product as a whole. For example, a royal wedding mug imported as white ware from China, but decorated in Stoke on Trent, could be described as: Made in China, decorated in Stoke on Trent. If imported goods bear a UK distributors name and address, then in the absence of any indication of their true origin you can add a qualifying statement, such as Imported by or Distributed in the UK by, to reduce the likelihood of misleading your customers. Registered trade marks and their logos and devices cannot be used without prior consent of the owner. As a general rule, if you recognise a brand or image, its probably registered. To ensure you dont breach a current registration, search registered trade marks free of charge. Finally, remember that photographs and designs are the intellectual property of whoever created the image, so check the source of anything you are thinking of using. The value of British branding is recognised by the British Ceramic Confederation (BCC). The Made in England back-stamp is sought after, both in the UK and around the world. This is especially the case in important export markets, such as South Korea and the USA, said the BCCs commercial and public affairs director, Tom Reynolds. For the catering trade, Made in England is a sign that tableware is of high quality and, for consumers, it is synonymous with craftsmanship and excellent design. Credit: Sarah Noonan Image: istock /mattasbestos For further advice on trading within the law, click here. For further information please contact your local Trading Standards Service