Trading Standards Service Performance Report 2022 to 2023

Supporting Reputable Businesses

the service received almost 50 requests for business advice on specific Trading Standards issues such as civil law responsibilities, product safety, e-commerce and food labelling provisions
new rules have come into force making it a criminal offence for businesses to administer Botox or cosmetic fillers to anyone under the age of 18. Guidance on the new rules have been drafted and sent out to over 300 local beauty salons
new regulations have been introduced concerning calorie labelling requirements for non-prepacked food at specified catering establishments and also placement requirements for food high in fat, sugar or salt at specified retailers. Compliance checks against these new rules were undertaken, with 43 visits carried out and advice given on 15 occasions
the service has continued to target rogue traders in order to help protect consumers and provide a level playing field for reputable businesses. In doing this, the boss of a home improvement company was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to participating in a fraudulent business. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work. The business model was to cold call on householders, take up-front deposits for agreed renovations but then fail to carry out any work. In the limited number of cases where work was carried out, it was either substandard or incomplete