Trading Standards

The trading standards service aim is to ensure businesses within the county comply with legislation enforced by the service and promote knowledge and fairness in the trading environment. Through its activities it aims to sustain and promote an improvement in the quality of life and the economic well being of both consumers and businesses.

Services delivered by Trading Standards

Fair Trading - Ensuring businesses are trading fairly by checking claims about price, quality and the descriptions of goods and services, and that products are genuine and trademarks are used correctly.

Metrology - Ensuring that all weighing and measuring equipment used for trade is accurate and complies with standards, and that goods are the quantity stated.

Consumer Safety - Ensuring that all consumer goods, comply with relevant technical standards and that they do not endanger consumer safety

Consumer Credit - Ensuring that credit is only offered to consumers by licensed traders and that any credit offered is not false or misleading and complies with legislative requirements

Environment Legislation - Ensuring that environmental damage is kept to a minimum by assessing and advising on claims, descriptions, storage and labelling.

Age Restricted Sales - Ensuring that age restricted items such as tobacco, DVDs, fireworks, knives and alcohol are not sold to children.

Business Advice - Aiding business to comply with their duties and responsibilities under relevant legislation.

Consumer Advice

For consumer advice or to report any unfair trading practices, a free telephone or e-mail service is available from Consumer Direct Wales.  Contact them Monday - Friday 0800-1830, Saturday 0900 - 1300 on 08454 04 05 06 or 08454 04 05 06 (Welsh speakers) or click on the following link to their website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk (opens new window)

Consumer advice including templates letters to traders, are also available in the pdf file below.

Consumer Support Advice Pack (download 644k)

ID: 5794 Revised: 2/8/2010