Trading Standards works to protect the public from unfair and unsafe trading practices. We do this by:

• Enforcing a wide range of criminal laws which protect consumers and honest businesses.
• Giving help and advice to consumers.
• Educating and informing consumers and businesses about the law and consumer issues.

Main areas of our work

• Fair Trading – this includes trade descriptions, counterfeit goods and pricing
• Product Safety – we make sure that consumer goods on sale are safe including toys and electrical equipment
• Weights & Measures – we check weighing and measuring equipment in use for trade including scales, petrol pumps and optics and beer meters in pubs
• Underage Sales – discouraging the sale of alcohol, cigarettes, fireworks, knives, solvents and other age restricted goods to children
• Food Standards – we check that food is properly labelled and meets the standards required by law
• Doorstep Selling – we discourage people from buying from businesses they don’t know and trust and we take action against rogue traders.
• Petrol, Poisons & Explosives – we make sure that these are stored and sold in safe conditions and we license or register the sellers.
• Advice – we provide advice and support on all consumer issues to consumers and businesses.
• Education – we work with schools, community groups and businesses on consumer education topics.

Our performance and standards

We publish full details of our service standards, performance against these standards, complaints made about us and the results of our customer surveys.

Trading Standards is part of the Public Protection Division of the Community and Culture Department.

If you experience any problems accessing documents on this page, help is available from our Accessibility page