This morning, I received through my letterbox the latest glossy catalogue from a well-known supplier of men’s clothing much patronised by Members of Parliament.
Among the goods on offer was a range of shoes described as “made using skills from Northamptonshire factories”. These were considerably cheaper than those from another range described as “made in Northants, England”.
It’s fairly obvious that the first range is foreign-made. Possibly the shoemakers, or at least some of them, once visited a Northampton factory before returning to China, India, or wherever, to turn out their shoes at knock-down prices. But foreign the shoes certainly are. It’s just that the retailer knows that they wouldn’t sell in anywhere near the same volumes if they were described as, say, “made in Bangalore, India”.
The weakness of labelling and trade description laws in this country (about which I have previously blogged) is utterly scandalous. Northampton shoes are known the world over as probably the finest made. Yet there is nothing to prevent a retailer from describing foreign-made shoes in such a manner as to give the impression that they originate in the county of Northampton.
This is a wholly disreputable practice, of which the retailer – a household name – should be thoroughly ashamed.
It may be obvious to you where the shoes were made, but not to everyone thanks to huge numbers of semi literate folk produced through our education system.
The law does require attention. I am told that as long as meat (from anywhere) is cut and prepared in Wales, it may be sold as “Welsh” meat.
Trade Description Act wording seems to be as accurate as New Labour’s idea of the word “Transparency”. As clear as mud.