Indicator Source/Number

Cost of Trading Standards Service per head of population

Write to:- 
Coventry Trading Standards Service,
Broadgate House,
Broadgate,
Coventry, CV1 1NH

Electronic Mail to Consumer Direct

 'Clear, practical consumer advice'

'Consumer Direct West Midlands is a new telephone advice service offering clear, practical consumer advice on a range of issues via the phone or internet.'

You can reach the Consumer Direct service clicking here

:
Consumer Direct telephone opening hours:
Monday – Friday 8am – 6.30
Saturday 9am – 1pm

Consumer Direct is a Government-funded initiative to provide first-step information to telephone callers across the Midlands. Advisors will usually be able to give an immediate answer to a problem. In more complex cases, or where a consumer reports a potentially criminal offence, they will pass the details to Trading Standards for further assistance and investigation.

Sample

Scope / Comment

Health and Nutrition Regulations sampling Regional project

Before and after sampling of snack foods and analyse for nutritional content, compare to label especially Home Authority companies.

Monitoring salt levels in pre-packed foods

To participate in the LACORS/FSA* long term rolling programmes to look at salt levels in pre-packed food as part of a regional project.

Ready made Meals

Check a range of meals for their nutritional value.

Internet food sales

Check a range of products for description, and legality when sold via / imported via the internet.

Also look at descriptions applied to food products via the internet. 

Dairy Free

Check products claiming to be dairy free.

Matured Beef

Check difference between samples matured on and off the bone and wet / dry production methods.

Imported sweets

Check additives / colours declared in imported sweets.

Sunflower + other seeds

Test for aflotoxins

Home authority company samples.

Check locally produced food products.

Pictorial representation of prepared foods

Check contents are comparable to picture on the packet.

Organic

Regional project looking at organic products. Items sampled and traced back (audit) Sample meat products and fresh and frozen ready meals, plus organic bread baked in store.

Pet food / feeding stuff

Check a range of prepacked and non-prepacked products for description / compositional requirements and labelling.

Staple foods – Meat products.

Undertake compositional analysis of a range of meat products such as burgers, sausage, mince, kebabs etc. Meat products should be sampled from local producers where possible. 

Staple foods

(None meat products)

Undertake compositional analysis of a range of products such as bread, jam, milk, honey etc.

Allergens

To look for the presence of allergenic ingredients in foods when not declared (Pre-packed and takeaway).

Food Supplements

Check if food supplements have been irradiated and declared as such.

Descriptions of Meals in catering establishments

Check a range of descriptions of items of food supplied at catering establishments. I.e. fillet steak, scampi etc.

Short Measure / description of alcoholic drinks.

Check the measure of alcoholic drinks from restaurants.

Vegetarian products

Check a number of products claiming to be suitable for vegans. vegetarians, both pre-packed and non-prepacked.

Meat species

Regional project – looking at contamination and substitution in meat products.

Takeaway foods

Check products such as curries, pizzas and kebabs for description and colours in food as appropriate.

Health / herbal remedy claims

Check the validity of a range of products making health claims and herbal remedy claims.

Foreign labelled products.

Check a range of imported products for compliance to the Food Labelling Regulations and legality to be sold.

Sample

Scope/Comment

New domestic upholstered furniture

Test for compliance with the flammability requirements of the Furniture and Furnishing Fire Safety Regulations

Clothing

Test for the presence of Azo dyes. These dyes are believed to be carcinogenic and are controlled by regulations.

Asian Cosmetics

Examine for compliance with the Cosmetic Products Safety Regulations in respect of labelling and composition.

Knives and aerosol paint

Under-age test purchase exercise. These products are age restricted and at present can only be supplied to persons who are 16 or over.

Personal Protective Equipment

Clothing designed and intended to afford protection against adverse effects in the work place must meet minimum standards, i.e. knee protectors, goggles. To purchase suitable items and test for compliance

Second Hand Tyres

Used tyres are required to have a minimum amount of tread and must not have damage or cuts above a maximum level. To purchase several used tyres and examine them for compliance.

Fireworks

Under-age test purchase exercise. Fireworks are age restricted and can only be supplied to persons who are 18 or over.

Batteries

To test the construction of cheap imported AA batteries for essential safety features.

Children's Clothing

Test children's (up to 3 years of age) clothing to assess the safety of (potentially) detachable components.

Novelty Lighters

To test lighters for child resistant mechanism. A Direction made under the General Products Safety Regulations prohibits the placing on the market of any lighters that do not have child resistant mechanism or any lighters irrespective of child resistance if they have child appeal.

Home and Garden tools and equipment (not electrical)

To test the general safety of various home or garden utensils