When can you write on a product 'Made in the UK'

[Dottie]

We are a company based in the UK but we import all our components for our products from other countries The final product is assembled in the UK. Can we label this as 'Made in the UK'?

Help, thank you.

 

[paulears]

Then it's assembled in the UK, if the components are all made out of the UK, you simply cannot describe it as made in the UK, because it isn't! There's a clear difference between assembled and made. No definition of 'made' would allow 'assembly' to be swapped.

 

[Dottie]

Ok what if one of the components is made in the UK that is used as part of the assembled and completed, finished product in the UK. We also use skilled labour, machinery and the product is to be mostly sold in the UK.

 

[Gecko001]

I suppose you might run into trouble with customers if you labelled it "Made in the UK" and then when it had to be repaired at sometime in the future and the repair man happened to let it slip that they were waiting for a part from China or France etc. It might be a little bit embarassing if it got into a the papers or online.

 

[WHARTY]

I would say the product is built in the UK? You're not lying. loads of stuff is imported or at least the raw materials have at some point been brought in from another country?

Was your product designed in the UK?
Was your product built in the UK?
Do you contribute to the British economy with regard to taxes and providing jobs?

For me, if it is designed in the UK, built in the UK and employs british workers then it's as good as British.

Built in Britain is your slogan.

 

[Dottie]

In answer to your questions Wharty the product was not designed in the UK, but the product is assembled and made into the final product to be sold in the UK I will also say that the labels we use are made in the UK as well. Yes we are using a local UK company to do this for us so yes again we are contributing to the British economy.

Thanks for your support on this but there does not seem to be anything concrete on what you really need to do to be able to distinguish whether you can put 'Made in the UK' on the label.

 

[businessfunding]

Can I suggest you post this in the legal forum?

I would be interested in the legal opinion.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

If the products are made in another country, yet is on "British Soil" there are companies out there that can and do stamp Made in England on them.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Can I suggest you post this in the legal forum?

I would be interested in the legal opinion.

Or the OP could use the search function,like wot I did.
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=239171

 

[fisicx]

An old post but useful: http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=79521

It's all about the definition of 'substantial change'. If you import a widget and bung a lable on it then it's not made in britain. If you import steel and turn it into a widget then it can be made in britain

 

[deniser]

A few years ago when the goods we imported from China were subject to import quotas and needed export licences, it was explained to us our suppliers in the US, that if something was changed or added to in the US but the actual original garment came from China, then they would label it as made in USA which would enable us to import it to the EU without requiring an export licence from China (a licence was required if it was made in China regardless of how many countries it had been through en route).

They were buying plain garments in China and then embellishing them in the US with embroidery, buttons, trims etc - there had to be an element of skill involved - and that's what they thought was sufficient for it to be labelled made in US.

 

[Spearmint]

This is an interesting thread, for I intend to sell a product soon, which I intend to adorn with a small Union Jack, to denote that its made in Britain but I wasn't intending to use any words. In my case, the product has been designed and made here, but I suspect that some of the raw materials could well have come from other countries, although I hadn't even considered that this could be a problem as it is in my opinion predominantly 'made in the UK' but am I mistaken and am I likely to fall foul of some law as well?

Being proud of what I'd achieved, I wanted to use a Union Jack on the product, but I've had mixed views on its use; apparently some overseas countries will like it, but some of our European partners may not! In an attempt to try and overcome that problem, my solution was to use an EU flag rather than a UJ if I was to sell one of my products in Europe, however I've had problems trying to source such a product! All I was after was a narrow ribbon displaying the blue background and gold stars but I couldn't find one supplier! Quite staggering really, that no-one produces such a ribbon where so many countries are involved and where there are many potential customers!

For all that are up to the challenge, I'd be interested to hear if anyone finds a company that sells it.

I also had trouble sourcing a UJ ribbon, and the one that I did find was pretty expensive, which was leading me to believe that no-one is really bothered on where a product is made!

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Spearmint,

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-234081.html

 

[paulears]

As a side twist - as we export scrap metal to China, for them to reprocess and sell back to us, the joke could well be that the product we buy from them was originally sourced from the UK but we cannot sell it as such.

I think the real issue here is that people want to use the Made in the UK label to give the product some additional QDOS over another imported product. In many cases, careful assembly here with expensive staff does provide better results than Chinese assembled products, but it's still made in China, isn't it?

 

[aronpaul_martins]

Hi there,

I would like to share my personal opinion on the subject. For the final product to be stamped as Made in UK its necessary that the components are locally produced/manufactured which in not true in you case so I think technically you will not be able to use the label m'afraid.

 

[WHARTY]

It's simple, don't say "made in UK" write "Built in UK" it's a fact your not lying.

 

[Vectis]

Most supermarkets will label a product British if any part of the production cycle is carried out here. This can include simply packaging the final product. I remember a fuss being made when this 'anomaly' came to light. People expected British labeled food etc to actually be produced here, but it wasn't always the case.

Although I don't agree with it, I think you can call your product British if it's simply assembled here. As was said previously, how far back up the chain do you go before you decide where a product comes from. China imports vast quantities of minerals, metals etc from Africa, Europe etc, as does India. It would be impossible to label everything with exactly where the raw materials came from.

 

[10032012]

Most supermarkets will label a product British if any part of the production cycle is carried out here. This can include simply packaging the final product. I remember a fuss being made when this 'anomaly' came to light. People expected British labeled food etc to actually be produced here, but it wasn't always the case.

Although I don't agree with it, I think you can call your product British if it's simply assembled here. As was said previously, how far back up the chain do you go before you decide where a product comes from. China imports vast quantities of minerals, metals etc from Africa, Europe etc, as does India. It would be impossible to label everything with exactly where the raw materials came from.

Produced in the UK using EU pork.

Happens all the time... union jack associated with a product but clearly avoiding claiming the meat/food is made here. Small print somewhere on the box usually saying the actual origin of the food and the fact its only packaged here.

 

[Websitehandyman]

I don't think it matter where the parts come from does it ? I mean I used to make furniture from Brazilian Mahogany and stick "Made in Birmingham" on them. I think that's just just part of the uk.

 

[Anthony Bowen]

I suppose you might run into trouble with customers if you labelled it "Made in the UK" and then when it had to be repaired at sometime in the future and the repair man happened to let it slip that they were waiting for a part from China or France etc. It might be a little bit embarassing if it got into a the papers or online.

I think you should understand what he is trying to say. Simply, If you have many components from other parts of the world and you are going to label it as "Made in the UK". I think this will be a matter that can bring trouble to you if any of your customers will find the truth behind it.