Latest News

News from North Somerset Council's Trading Standards Service.

From this page you can find the latest information on a range of Trading Standards issues including latest news releases and safety warnings.

News items and Press Releases

New regulations to ban Unfair Commercial Practices

In May 2006 the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 came into force bringing new rules for ‘business to consumer’ sales.

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

For more information click here.

Home Information Packs

Personal imports of foodstuffs

Thinking of travelling abroad? Considering returning with meat or other food products?

We all know there are allowances on bringing alcohol, tobacco and perfume into the UK. But what about foodstuffs and in particular meat, or products containing meat?

Well there are strict controls on imports of these items because they can introduce diseases into the country which may have devastating effects, not only on human heath but also on the health of our farm animals - remember Foot & Mouth Disease in 2001!

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have stepped up their checks on these products, especially where travellers are returning from outside the EU.

In 2005 - 2006 they made 32,795 seizures amounting to over 272 tonnes of food.

They regularly check passengers from African countries, the far east, Eastern Europe and the West Indies. But strict controls also apply to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

To make sure you don't fall foul of the law and for a free guide to the import rules please download a copy of the Defra / HMRC Personal Imports of foodstuffs leaflet.

For more detailed guidance including FAQ's please check out the Defra website

Legal proceedings taken by North Somerset
Trading Standards Service

Details of offence/s	Penalty	Court date or date of action
Samuel Jones Also known as John Pope address(s) Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Fraud Act 2006 Falsely describing the depth and quality of tarmac used at a number of consumer's homes in North Somerset and Devon. Fraudulently using a false name.	10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years 150 hours community service Compensation order £5,000 Legal costs £12,000 Total Penalty £17,000	December 2009
Joseph Beech Bristol Road, Winscombe Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export)(England Regulations 2006 Failing to supply required documentation for the importation of two batches of horses. Obstructing an officer	Total fine £750 Costs £500 Total Penalty £1,250	December 2009
Kandiah Mohanakumaran T/A KMS News, Old Street, Clevedon Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (as amended) Selling tobacco products to a child	Fine £1,070 Costs £1,250 Total Penalty £2,320	October 2009
James COFFEY also known as Tony Ford, of 'Tall Trees' Almondsbury Bristol Sole Director of: Interlock Drives Ltd, Warmley, Bristol. Seven Offences under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA) of giving consumers misleading quotations relating to the payment of VAT. Five Offences under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 (TDA) of making false statements to consumers concerning the provision of a service.	CPA Offences:- Total Fine £3,500 Compensation Orders £1,675 Victim Surcharge £15 Prosecution costs £7,124 Total £12,314 TDA Offences:- Conditional Discharge for 18 months	August 2009
Weston super Mare take-away business Consumer Protection Act 1987 Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale)(Safety) Regulations 2002 Selling prohibited tobacco products 1. imported and not labelled in English, and 2. containing higher levels of tar than permitted in the UK. Failing to display a warning notice re not selling tobacco products to under 18's	Simple Caution for each offence	August 2009
North Somerset Market Trader Trade Marks Act 1994 Manufacturing and selling counterfeit DVDs.	Simple Caution	August 2009
North Somerset village retailer Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (as amended) Selling tobacco products to a child on two separate occasions on the same day	Simple Caution	July 2009
Clevedon sales assistant Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (as amended) Selling tobacco products to a child	Simple Caution	July 2009
Backwell retailer Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (as amended) Selling tobacco products to a child	Simple Caution	July 2009
Congresbury retailer Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (as amended) Selling tobacco products to a child on two separate occasions on the same day	Business and sales assistant both received a Simple Caution	July 2009
Firemagic Ltd Yatton, North Somerset Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (MSER) The company failed to take appropriate measures to limit the extent of fire or explosion The company stored explosives but failed to protect persons from the effects of fire or explosion The company failed to comply with the conditions of its' MSER explosives licence in that it stored in excess of the 2 tonnes net explosive content permitted.	Total fines £5,000 £5,000 £5,000 Costs awarded £0 Total penalty £15,000 See also Judge's summing up	June 2009
Andrew John Collins Yatton, North Somerset Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 Due to the consent, connivance or neglect of Andrew John Collins, Firemagic Ltd failed to take appropriate measures to limit the extent of fire or explosion Due to the consent, connivance or neglect of Andrew John Collins, Firemagic Ltd failed to protect persons from the effects of fire or explosion whilst storing explosives	Total fines £150 £150 Costs awarded £0 Banned from being company director for 5 years Banned from driving for 6 months Total penalty £300 + driving ban + Ban on being company director See also Judge's summing up	June 2009
David Forsyth McMillan of Moorland Park, Hewish Trading as 'Fair Trade Plastics' Consumer Protection Act 1987 Giving a misleading price indication Consumer (Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations) 2008 Aggresive Commercial Practice Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded Away From Business Premises) Regulations 1987 2 x Failure to give notice of cancellation rights	Total fines £520 Costs £500 Victim surcharge £15 Total £1035	January 2009
North Somerset Resident Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Communicated copyrighted works to the public via the internet (known as on-line file sharing).	Simple Caution	December 2008
Weston super Mare shop Designated Premises Supervisor Licensing Act 2003 Selling alcohol to a child	£80 Fixed Penalty Notice	September 2008
New Venture T/A Congresbury Motor Company Ltd Weston Road, Congresbury Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Consumer Protection Act 1987 Consumer Credit Act 1974 Misleading Price Indications Falsely claiming approval by the Automobile Association (AA) Breaches of credit advertising regulations	Fine £8,200 Costs £4,650 Compensation awarded £594 Total £13,444	August 2008
Clevedon shop assistant Licensing Act 2003 Selling alcohol to a child	£80 Fixed Penalty Notice	February 2008
Atmosclear Ltd Keith Leslie Baker (Director) Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Falsely claiming to be a CORGI registered company	Co and Director Fined 2 X £500 each Costs £824.58 each Total £3,649.16	August 2007
Abbots Leigh farmer Animal Health Act 1981 Failing to produce livestock movement records for inspection	Fined £100 Costs £75 Total £175	January 2007
Michael Kyaw Soe Aung (Formerly) Licensee of Lidl Gmbh, Worle, Weston super Mare Licensing Act 1964 Selling alcohol to a 15 year old	Fined £500 Costs £2,124.55 Total £2,624.55 3 month licence suspension	October 2006
Stuart Malcolm Millard trading as:- Knightcott Motors of Banwell Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Supplied a motor caravan described as having a 2500 cc engine when, in fact, it had a 1900cc engine.	Fined 6 x £500 (Reduced to 3 x £500 on appeal) Costs £4,750 (Increased to £6,900 on appeal) Compensation Order £1,600 Total £10,000	October 2006 Appeal heard at Bristol Crown Court - October 2007
Three Weston super Mare shop assistants Licensing Act 2003 Selling alcohol to a child	£80 fixed penalty each	September 2006
Michael John O'Brian of Quedgley, Gloucestershire trading as:- A1 Contractors, & A1 West Paving Business Names Act 1985 Failure to give details of business ownership Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded Away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987 Failure to provide consumer with the statutory cancellation notice	Fined £3,500 Costs £830.16 Total £4,330.16	September 2006
Richards & Appleby Queen Anne St, London General Product Safety Regulations 2004 Incorrect instructions on 'Smooth Appeal' hot wax hair remover caused a North Somerset resident to receive 2nd degree burns.	Fined 2 x £1,000 Costs £2,794.29 Total £4,794.29	July 2006
Mr Guljinder Singh Hayer, Weston super Mare Manufacture & Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (MSER) Storing greater weight of fireworks than permitted by MSER Licemce. Failure to store fireworks in the proper manner	Fined £4,650 Costs £2,040 Forfeiture of fireworks with a retail value of £2,880 Total £9,570	June 2006

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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