Product Standards

Product Standards section is responsible for ensuring the FOOD we eat is correctly labelled, contains legal ingredients and is of the correct quality and quantity. This includes carrying out inspections at retailers and manufacturers where products are examined and sampled. Some products will be sent off for testing at the Public Analysts laboratory to ensure they meet the required standard.

We also enforce SAFETY laws aimed at preventing the supply of dangerous goods. As well as advising suppliers about the laws that apply to their products, the team may also test goods in-house or send them to an approved test house for examination, to ensure they meet the required safety standards Complaints from the general public about unsafe goods are also investigated, which may involve examining or testing the product.

Tackling UNDERAGE SALES is an important role carried out by the product standards section. We always try to educate a trader about how to avoid making illegal sales to young people and operate a free to join Responsible Retailer Scheme. We work closely with South Yorkshire Police and take part in test purchasing operations where trained underage volunteers are sent into shops to try and buy age restricted goods. If we catch a trader who continues to sell goods to underage young people, they could be prosecuted or in the case of alcohol, have their licence taken away.

The Responsible Retail Scheme is also a function of Product Standards - this now appears on its own page, this link Responsible Retailing will open that page.

Control of Illicit Tobacco

Relatively new to Sheffield Trading Standards, and under the jurisdiction of the Product Standards Team, is the responsibility to help police sales and distribution of illicit tobacco.

Why is Illicit Tobacco an Issue?

Far from being a victimless crime, the trade in illicit tobacco has serious consequences for health, crime and community cohesion.
Illicit traders can be perceived as community “Robin Hood” figures. It is important to raise awareness of the real dangers of illicit tobacco:

• Causes four times as many deaths as illicit drugs because it discourages smokers from quitting and encourages them to smoke more.
• Linked to low level and large scale organised crime, nationally and internationally.
• Goes hand in hand with drugs and alcohol, child exploitation, money laundering and even terrorism.
• Costs the tax payer around 2.5bn per year.
• Makes it easier for children to smoke.
• Targets poor and disadvantaged communities.

• Smuggled - Foreign brands illegally brought in to the UK
• Boot legged (duty free) – Foreign products brought into the UK in illegal quantities and resold in the UK
• Counterfeit – Fake packaging often made to look like premium brands. Cheap/low quality tobacco often containing harmful substances.

• Friends/colleagues at work or in pubs/clubs
• Under the counter at tobacco retailers
• Under the counter at non tobacco retailers eg. Tanning Salons, butchers, ice cream sellers
• Indoor and outdoor markets
• Car boot sales
• Street sellers
• Fag houses

Tobacco Related Enforcement Activity in Sheffield 2010-2011

Officers from Sheffield Trading Standards and NHS Sheffield coordinate implementation of the Sheffield Cheap and Illicit Tobacco Control action plan. During 2010-11 Trading Standards have carried out the operations listed below:

• 72 premise inspections have been completed checking compliance with the Trade Marks Act, advertising regulations and health warnings on packs
• Test purchasing operations have visited a total of 40 retail premises - 14 of these premises sold cigarettes to our volunteer. (Failure rate of 35%)
• 3 prosecutions are pending, 7 cautions were issued, 10 received written warnings
• 4 vending machines were attempted in licensed premises. Our volunteer was not challenged in any of these. (Failure rate 100%)
• 11 enforcement visits have resulted in the seizure of counterfeit and/or illicit tobacco. Further action has been in the form of
• 4 prosecutions pending, 2 cautions were issued, 4 written warnings

• A joint operation with HMRC resulted in the seizure of over 58kg of counterfeit tobacco and manufacturing paraphernalia. The two people arrested pleaded guilty at court and were sentenced to community service
• A joint operation with South Yorkshire Police resulted in 280 packets of counterfeit and non duty paid cigarettes and 22kg of non duty paid hand rolling tobacco being seized from a man supplying from a local pub. He was sentenced to a fine of £300
• A Sheffield Off-Licence was found in possession for sale of 144 packets of counterfeit and non duty paid cigarettes. She was fined £100
• A Sheffield retailer was found in possession of 278 counterfeit and non duty paid cigarettes and 3 kg hand rolling tobacco. He was fined a total of £1200

Sellers of illicit tobacco could receive unlimited fines and/or a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The illicit products would be confiscated and any proceeds from the crime could be seized. To report any illegal activities concerning tobacco please contact Sheffield Trading Standards, 2-10 Carbrook Hall Road, Sheffield, 0114 2736290 Or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on the telephone number below;

For more general information regarding illicit tobacco, see: illicittobacconorth.org (Opens in New Window)

Sheffield City Council Trading Standards, 2-10 Carbrook Hall Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 2DB
Telephone: (0114) 2736290   Fax: (0114) 2736248   Electronic Mail: trading.standards@sheffield.gov.uk