Business Advice
In our enforcement policy, West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service commits to ensuring that businesses clearly understand the legislative requirements related to their business activity, and they have the resources to access advice to aid the meeting of those requirements.
We recognise that in the current economic climate that legitimate businesses are finding it difficult enough to keep trading without Trading Standards imposing further burdens. That is why we have a policy of 'no intervention without a reason' and are here to provide assistance and guidance to help honest businesses comply with the legislation.
General Business Advice
Advice to businesses is available in guidance material on the Government website and other organisational websites. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute provides us with The Business Companion website, which offers a wealth of information for all businesses and is an excellent starting point. The Business Companion website is your one stop source for all manners of business advice, both quick guides and in depth guides are available.
The Website of the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills provides information regarding a range of issues including product safety and doorstep selling.
Food
If you are a food business, the Food Standards Agency website covers all areas of food standards, hygiene and labelling. If you are planning on starting up a new food business, you must register your premises with the Environmental Health Service 28 days before opening.
The Food Information Regulations 2014 brought in tighter constraints on the labelling of allergens in food. It is now a requirement for food businesses to provide allergy information on all unpackaged food sold. For more information about this, and for an interactive food allergy training module please click here.
You can also find the current recall list, allergy alerts and other news here.
Safety - General Regulations, Acts & Product specific Regulations
Details of product safety legislation in force in the UK can be found by clicking on the following links;
- EU enacted legislation
- EU guidance on regulations can be found at New Approach Directives
- The Consumer protection Act 1987 brings into force UK technical legislation which has not been harmonised within the EU.
- The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 catches any product not caught by product specific EU legislation, or UK based legislation.
- DTi guidance for businesses etc (pdf)
- BIS guidance on regulations interaction with other legislation (pdf)
- The Government website provides guidance on Product Safety for Manufacturers to ensure you meet your legal and technical responsibilities in regards to cosmetic products, children’s products and product liability, amongst many more - https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-for-manufacturers
To see the current product recall list please visit the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Website.
Age Restricted Products
WYTSS is responsible for enforcing a range of legislation relating to sales of age-restricted products, principally tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, fireworks, solvents and computer games/DVDs. Please see Age Restricted Sales for more information.
Fireworks
Fireworks are regulated by product specific safety legislation covering their design, construction and labelling. Fireworks also carry age restrictions on their sale and possession. Guidance for retailers can be found here.
Businesses involved in the storage and sale of fireworks require a licence. To enquire about a licence West Yorkshire businesses should contact West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service.
Doorstep Selling
If you are a business selling products or services to consumers at their home or workplace, you must provide vital information to your customers, including the right to cancel.
Please see the below links for more information regarding Doorstep Selling Regulations.
Guidance on the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 is also available:
Guidance for consumer contracts, including information, cancellation and additional charges can be found here.
Primary Authority
If a business would require more detailed advice or support, this can be provided by WYTSS under our Primary Authority Scheme.
Further information relating to this scheme can be found at https://primaryauthorityregister.info/.
If you cannot find suitable Business advice and guidance in the above information, please contact this service by emailing us at dutyofficer@wyjs.org.uk