Business Advice

LATEST FSA FOOD ALERTS - CLICK HERE

We provide an advice service to businesses based in North Somerset to help them comply with the law.

In 2006 - 2007 we were able to resolve over 350 queries from North Somerset traders concerning their legal obligations and how the laws we enforce affect them.

New regulations to ban Unfair Commercial Practices

On the 26th May 2008 the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 will bring into to force new rules for ‘business to consumer’ sales.

These Regulations bring about the biggest change in Consumer laws for generation!

For more information click here.

More information can be found on the BERR website

A copy of the new regulations can be downloaded here.

A copy of the OFT's advice leaflet, sent to 70,000 businesses in September 2008, can be downloaded here.

Local business advice

We offer a free advice service to any business based in North Somerset with regard to any aspect of the laws we enforce.

The laws we enforce include those regulating:-

• misleading advertisements and other promotional material
• weights & measures
• labelling and composition of food
• counterfeit goods (videos, cd's, dvd's, clothing, tobacco, alcohol, car spares etc)
• prices and price marking (including in-store promotions)
• safety of consumer goods
• manufacture, composition and labelling of farm animal feeds, pet foods and fertilisers
• consumer credit (including licensing, advertisements etc)
• farm animal health & welfare, record keeping and movement licensing
• package holidays & timeshare
• estate agents and property misdescriptions
• underage sales (tobacco products, alcohol, video's, DVD's and solvents)
• unsolicited goods & services
• sale of poisons
• storage and sale of petroleum spirit

We carry out this function by various means such as:-

• checking labels and advertisements for local companies to ensure they comply with the law prior to committing them to print;
• advising local businesses on how to meet their legal obligations and how the laws we enforce affect them;
• subscribing to the Home Authority Principle
• where possible, offering detailed advice on the composition and construction of products;
• clearly distinguishing between legal requirements and best practice;
• providing businesses with information in writing where necessary.
• signposting businesses to sources of information where we are unable to answer their question.

Contact us for further information

New businesses - clear yourself for take-off

If you are considering starting up a new business providing goods or services (retail, wholesale, manufacturing, importing or exporting) then it is likely that you will have to comply with legislation enforced by the Trading Standards Service.

A great deal of advice and information is available elsewhere on this website. However the Service has a policy of prevention before enforcement and is willing to give specific advice aimed at helping you to comply with the law from the outset. This advice will be confidential, impartial and free.

If you are setting up a business which is based in North Somerset and which will trade goods or services outside North Somerset then see also our Home Authority page.

Contact us for further information and advice.

Price indicationss

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 implement the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD: Directive 2005/29/EC).

These Regulations prohibit traders from engaging in unfair commercial practices which harm consumers’ economic interests. This includes the manner in which prices are displayed and any claims that may be made regarding prices (eg "20% OFF" / "Lowest price in town")

In broad terms, commercial practices are acts or omissions by a trader directly connected to the supply of products to consumers. The giving of information about prices is one form of commercial practice.

The Government's Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) have produced a leaflet to help businesses comply with the law on indicating prices. A copy of the booklet can be downloaded here

Food Alerts

If you run a food business it is essential that you are aware of safety warnings, issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), regarding foods which they consider pose a risk to health.

These alerts can be viewed at the FSA's Food Alerts website.

If you should find that any of the foods listed are in your possession you should contact us immediately.

Registration of a food business

Our Food safety Team registers any premises used for a food business in North Somerset. This includes market stalls and delivery vehicles as well as cafes, restaurants and fast-food outlets. It allows us to keep an up-to-date list of these premises for inspection purposes.

Anyone starting a new food business must register with us at least 28 days before doing so.

There is no charge but your address and business type details will be entered into a public register.

Download a copy of the Food Business Registration Form

Disposal of waste food and catering waste:

The disposal of waste foodstuffs (including catering waste) is strictly controlled.

If you are a food business then it's important that you are aware of these changes. click here for the latest guidance.

Importing Food

Are you in the food business or thinking about setting up a food business?

Are you considering importing food from the European Union (EU) or from a third country (ie from outside the EU)?

Then this section is important to YOU.

It's important to control imports to protect the health of people, animals and plants. That's why there are restrictions on the food products that can be imported into the UK and why food imports are checked as they enter the country.

It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that there are sufficient quality controls in place in the country of origin where the product is produced. It is also up to the importer to ensure that the food they import to the UK is fit for human consumption and that no-one will become ill if they eat it.

The importer must ensure that they have met the requirements of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. They must also ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), as many foods from non-European Union countries require import licences for trading purposes and may be subject to import quotas. Further information can be found on the RPA website.

The controls on imported food vary depending on the type of food and the part of the world it comes from.

Visit the Food Imports section of the Food Standards Agency website or the International Trade section of the Defra website where you can find important information and guidance on what you will need to do about all aspects of the importation of food.

Estate Agents

If you run an estate agency business, or are considering starting one up then there are a number of issues that you need to address. These include terms of business, declaring a personal interest, handling negotiations, misleading statements, property misdescriptions and handling clients’ money to name but a few.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued a Guidance Document for Estate Agents - Click Here to download a copy of this essential document. (pdf)

Age Restricted Products

UK law prohibits the sale of some products to persons under certain ages.

For example, products such as alcohol, tobacco, fireworks and solvents are all 'age restricted products' as, of course, are DVD's and videos bearing 18, 15, 12 etc age restrictions.

We take the issue of sales of these products to underage teenagers very seriously. This is a key priority for the Council and reflects both the concern expressed during our consultation with residents and the changing attitude towards the impact of alcohol and other age restricted products in society.

For detailed information, advice and a downloadable staff handbook on all aspects of age restricted sales please click here.

Note: The age for selling tobacco products rose from 16 to 18 on 1 October 2007.

Distance Selling Regulations

These Regulations may apply to your business if you sell goods or services by mail order, phone call, the internet, text messaging, faxing or via interactive TV.

Research has shown that only a fraction of businesses are aware of these Regulations.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the Regulations including the issue of a guidance booklet - "Home Shopping - Distance Selling Regulations - a guide for business"

To receive your free copy of the booklet either telephone:
0870 6060321 or click on the link below:-

Guidance booklet

We also have an advice leaflet aimed specifically at businesses which sell via the internet. This leaflet can be downloaded at:-

Selling on the net

Home Authority Principle

We adhere to national guidelines (known as the Home Authority Principle) which require us to place special emphasis on companies resident in North Somerset.

• Home Authority Principle

Builders, Plumbers, Electricians and other contractors

Builders, plumbers, electricians and other contractors can now gain accreditation from the new 'Trust Mark' scheme.

This scheme will bring obvious business benefits, enabling good quality tradespersons to gain an advantage over those who bring the construction and home improvement trade into disrepute.

Find out how from:-

Trust Mark
Englemere
Tower Court
Kings Ride
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7TB
Telephone 0870 163 7373
Fax 0870 163 1661
Email: enquiries@trustmark.org.uk
Website: Trust Mark

Energy Performance of Buildings

Our buildings are responsible for almost 50 per cent of the UK's energy consumption and carbon emissions.

The Government is introducing new measures in England and Wales to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings, including:

• introducing energy performance certificates for properties providing A-G efficiency ratings and recommendations for improvement
• requiring public buildings to display energy certificates
• requiring inspections for air conditioning systems
• giving advice and guidance for boiler users
• The reforms are currently being rolled out. From 1 October 2008 all properties - homes, commercial and public buildings - when bought, sold, built or rented will need an EPC. Larger public buildings will also need to display an energy certificate.

This work is part of European legislation - the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - which all member states must adopt.

For further information please go to the government's Energy Performance website.

For more information vist the Government's Home Information Packs website.

Guidance notes and leaflets

Either go to ....

• Self-help advice sheets which you are welcome to view, download and print off, or

• Customised business advice Use a 'wizard' to select relevant advice leaflets tailored to your requirements.

North Somerset Council, Trading Standards Service, Somerset House, Oxford Street, Weston super Mare, Somerset, BS23 1TG
Telephone: 01275 884118    Fax: 01275 888683
Electronic Mail: trading.standards@n-somerset.gov.uk