Trading standards

Trading Standards is a term used to describe the local government offices that are responsible for ensuring consistency in the quantity, quality, price, description and safety of goods and services sold within their area of responsibility. They enforce the standards set by government legislation to ensure that products are safe to buy and are sold in a fair manner.

Trading Standards offices deal with a very broad range of requirements. Some of the most common areas dealt with are:

• Underage sales: It is a criminal offence to sell certain products to customers who are under the prescribed age. For example, petrol cannot be sold to customers under the age of 16, while alcohol must not be sold to under-18’s.
• Metrology or ‘weights and measures’: The Trading Standards offices are responsible for ensuring that products sold at a particular weight or measure meet the proper quantity requirements.
• Restricted Products: Certain products can only be legally sold if particular regulations are complied with. For example, the advertisement and sale of tobacco is heavily regulated. Similarly, the sale of BB or ‘airsoft’ imitation firearms is legal only if stringent requirements are met.

Trading Standards offices most commonly employ compliance measures such as inspections, warnings and injunctions. However, the offices are prepared to use criminal sanctions to enforce standards.