Trading Standards for businesses

You can find free, impartial advice on a whole range of trading standards legislation on the Business Companion website. 

Food standards

If your business manufactures or supplies food and drink we may visit or contact you as part of our routine inspections and sampling. Our aim is to make sure the quality, labelling, advertising and presentation of food complies with legal requirements. Wherever possible we’ll provide you with advice and guidance to help you meet your legal obligations. 

You can also contact us using the details at the bottom of this page for advice on food labelling or the composition of a product you make. 

We’ll contact you if you have any foods affected by a Food Standards Agency alert, which is usually when a product is withdrawn or recalled. You can also sign up to alerts on the Food Standards Agency website.  

Food allergens

If your business manufactures, sells or supplies food you need to know about food allergens and intolerances, including your legal obligations. You can find allergen guidance for food businesses on the Food Standards Agency website. 

Product safety

All products supplied to consumers must be safe and some products are subject to specific safety regulations such as toys, cosmetics and electrical equipment. We enforce product safety legislation by carrying out routine inspections and test purchases.

You can find guidance on product safety on the Business Companion website. You can also contact us using the details at the bottom of this page for advice to help you comply with the law.

Disputes with consumers

If you’re in a dispute with a consumer over issues like if you should give a refund, how much they should pay for work you’ve done or the quality of a job, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service. 

Form a Primary Authority Partnership with Trading Standards

A Primary Authority Partnership is a formal relationship between a business and a local regulatory authority to help the business liaise with multiple regulatory services and reduce the risk of non-compliance.

Our Trading Standards service offers Primary Authority Partnerships in relation to:

• age restricted products and services
• agriculture (manufacture, composition and labelling of animal feed and fertilisers)
• animal health and welfare
• consumer credit
• explosives licensing
• petrol storage
• fair trading
• food standards
• metrology (weights and measures)
• product safety

The scheme has a statutory basis under the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 and is overseen by The Office for Product Safety and Standards. It’s not restricted by geographical location and so businesses are free to approach any local authority or have relationships with more than one authority.

Benefits and fees

If your business enters into a partnership with us, you’ll have access to:

• "Assured Advice" – advice given by the primary authority which other local authorities must regard when carrying out their inspections and enforcement
• a dedicated officer to manage your partnership and who’ll handle all contacts made by other Trading Standards services across the country
• information on the number and type of complaints received by Trading Standards about your business

We’ll charge £102 per hour for Primary Authority service for the 2024 to 2025 financial year. VAT is not charged. 

For further information about the scheme, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page. 

Calibration of weighing and measuring equipment

We carry out various testing and verification services. Our fees are from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and are reviewed annually. Some are subject to VAT which will be charged at the current rate.

For further information or to book an appointment, contact us using the details at the bottom of this page. 

Calibration charges, test and report

An equipment test and report is £102 per officer hour. It’s also £102 per hour for calibration certificates for weighing or measuring equipment, charged from when the work carried out in issuing the certificate starts.

Weighing instruments

The calibration of weighing instruments is £102 per officer hour. This is based on you providing the testing equipment, for example Weighbridge Test Unit (WBTU). Where we provide equipment and it has to be hired, you’ll be charged the full cost.

Measuring equipment for liquid fuel and lubricants 

The calibration of liquid fuel and lubricant measuring equipment is £102 per officer hour.

Farming and livestock

You can find more information about farming standards and legislation on the Department
for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Animal & Plant Health Agency websites. Or for further advice, contact us using the details below.