Backstamping... The Saga
Continues
Unity
has been the spearhead of a long running campaign to address the issue of ware
with misleading backstamps coming into this country.
Over the last two years General Secretary Geoff Bagnall and Assistant General
Secretary Garry Oakes have held numerous meetings with Government Ministers
calling for action.
West Midlands Labour MEP Michael Cashman has been a staunch supporter of the
Unity initiative, and has taken the argument to the European Commission.
The proposal is to introduce a Mark of Origin (backstamp) on specific goods
produced outside the EU.
The Mark of Origin would be applied to a number of goods, including ceramics and
it would inform consumers exactly where products come from. However the
proposals have not yet received the necessary approval from EU member states.
At a meeting with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair
Darling MP, held on the 16th of April Michael Cashman raised the
issue once again, he said: “This proposal has been on the table for two
years and it has still not been agreed. The Mark of Origin proposal would help
our struggling ceramic industries, not only in North Staffordshire and the rest
of the UK, but across Europe as well.”
Whilst the Mark of Origin has been welcomed by the ceramics industry, industries
producing goods such as footwear and clothing have expressed reservations.
Michael added: “The ceramics industry in the UK has always used a
backstamp, other industries have not. Yet, like the UK they face unfair
competition from China and India. We need help with unfair practises, such as
counterfeiting and a Mark of Origin would help, it would also aid Customs in
tracking down counterfeiters.”
Unity Pile on the Pressure
At a
meeting of the European Parliament’s Ceramics Forum held in Brussels on
Wednesday 18th April, Unity assistant General Secretary Garry Oakes
increased the pressure on EU member states to resolve issues holding up European
Commission proposals to introduce a mark of origin on ceramic goods produced
outside the EU.
Unity has long campaigned for imported ceramic goods to carry a mark of origin
and have the backing of West Midlands MEPs Michael Cashman and Malcolm Harbour
who are both co- presidents of the European Parliament’s Ceramics Forum.
Speaking to the forum Garry said; “There are no issues or problems with
introducing a Mark of Origin on ceramic goods. We have been doing it for
hundreds of years - we call it the backstamp. This proposal has been on
the table for two years and its time that all the issues were ironed out. The
ceramics industry in North Staffordshire and across Europe should not be made to
suffer just because the clothing and footwear industries have expressed
reservations. We believe that the UK Government should be able to negotiate with
other member states who are expressing reservations and come up with a deal that
will satisfy other industries and secure a future for ceramics. We currently
face unfair competition from cheap imported goods, mainly from India and China.
All we are asking is that customers be allowed to make an informed choice. It’s
not rocket science.”