Dir. of Scottish Tartan Authority Criticizes Edinburgh Shops

[gilmore]

In the US this problem of protecting the consumer from unwittingly buying inferior imported goods is dealt with by a federal law that requires that almost all retail goods bear a label stating the country of manufacture.

It's not a perfect solution. In these days of globalization labeling works only so well, when the component parts of something---such as automobiles--- may very well be made in a dozen or more different countries and merely finally assembled in the US, but I don't think that would be so much of an issue with kilts.

I would think that the business and trade assocations of Scottish manufacturers of kilts, tartans, sporrans, etc, could look into getting Parliament to pass a similar law. It shouldn't be too difficult. All it takes is votes and money. And if peerages are for sale, surely the integrity of Scottish made goods could be bought back also, and at a fraction of the cost of a life peerage.

[McClef]

One would hope that bribery would not be needed gilmore!

I would think this issue one be a devolved one that could be dealt with by the Scottish Parliament as I have already advocated - they are, after all, the ones dealing with the "weapons" issue that we have seen and discussed in earlier threads.

Neither can I see it as a party political issue, there is no reason why it should not get all party support.

Clear labelling is now a requirement on most things and that includes issues of origin. Simply blazoning the word Scotland on the outside of a shop will then no longer be so capable of misleading.

[Bob C]

I doubt that many of the tourists who pick up a $40 kilt would have bought a $600 kilt if the cheap one were not available.