- Expert advice will be provided to businesses
- The public will be protected as the highest standards will be met
Newham Council’s Trading Standards service has entered into a commercial contractual agreement with Reedpop UK, a division of Reed Exhibitions Limited, to work in partnership to provide professional regulatory services to the convention organiser for its hugely popular MCM Comic Con events.
MCM Comic Con events have been run in the UK since 2006 and they are the biggest and most prestigious event of its kind within the sector in the UK.
Councillor Carleene Lee- Phakoe, Cabinet Member for Crime & Community Safety said:
“I am really pleased to see the council enter into an agreement to provide professional regulatory services to Comic Con. Newham’s Trading Standards experts will provide key advice leading up to events, as well as formal inspections on event days.
“The team will remind businesses of their legal obligations - specifically the need for compliance with general product safety, marking requirements, toy safety, adult collectibles (not designed for use in play by children), intellectual property, pricing, textile labelling, and other associated legislation enforced by Trading Standards.
“The work of Newham’s Trading Standards service helps protect Newham residents and the wider public who attend these great events. “
Newham’s Trading Standards have been attending a number of MCM Comic-Con conventions that have taken place at Excel London over the last few months providing comprehensive and robust business advice to over 130 businesses attending the conventions. Overall, businesses have welcomed Trading Standards involvement, and their support for businesses during this challenging economic time.
As a result of Trading Standards interventions over the course of the year, only a small number of requests were made for immediate removal of non-compliant products, with the issuing of non-compliance notices. Follow-up inspections were conducted during the course of the respective convention days.
As part of this continued partnership arrangement, Newham’s Trading Standards service also conducted advisory visits between Friday 11 and Sunday 13 November 2022, at MCM Comic-Con, NEC Birmingham.
Teresa Heitor, Event Director of MCM Comic Con UK, said:
“We are very grateful for the ongoing support and assistance of Newham Council’s Trading Standards service. Their presence has enhanced the reputation of our MCM Comic Con events – not only are Comic Cons fun to attend and a great day out for all the family, but, thanks to of Newham’s Trading Standards’ efforts, all our visitors now realise that the exhibitors, their products and the goods which are on show or sale are bona fide, legitimate and genuine.”
