A charity activist is calling on the courts to stop ordering the destruction of counterfeit clothes and shoes but instead order their supervised rebranding so they can be given to the poor. Peter Lloyd has taken his request to government level after, last month, the court ordered the destruction of 52,826 pairs of shoes and 2,736 items of sports clothing. The items bore fake Puma, Adidas, CAT and Asics labels.

Mr Lloyd is the treasurer of St Andrew’s Scots Church in Valletta that works with the poor, in particular the migrant community.

Charity activist Peter Lloyd wants counterfeit goods to benefit the poor. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

He is suggesting that rather than waste the shoes and clothes by destroying them, they are instead given to those in need.

This was already being done by a UK charity called HISchurch that, following agreements with the original brands themselves, rebranded counterfeit items and gave them to shelters. This was done under supervision and using an elaborate process to satisfy the companies.

Mr Lloyd is proposing that the court be asked to amend its decision in this case in favour of rebranding the shoes and clothes.

“So my proposal is that the court is approached to amend its decision to destroy the items and instead sending the consignment of seized goods to Eng-land for rebranding by the specialist charity.

My proposal is that the court is approached to amend its decision to destroy the items

“Once rebranded some of these would come back to Malta for the poor but under strict controls that would provide an audit trail, to whom they were given, in order to ensure that they did not end up back in the illegitimate market,” he said.

He specified that not all would be returned to Malta since the poor here did not need 52,000 pairs of shoes, so these could be sent to developing countries.

Failing this, he called for the introduction of a practice within the courts that would ensure the rebranding of future seizures of counterfeit goods.

Mr Lloyd said he had made his proposals to Social Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and was waiting for feedback.

“There remains a question of the cost. If the goods are sent to England for rebranding then there is the cost of transport. However, I would hope that the Government would bear this cost given that they would be making a saving in storage and costs of landfill or incineration as well as the benefit to the environment,” he said.