Trading Standards is brought to you by the letter P . . .

Historically, we were known as Suffolk Weights and Measures Department because our primary function was to maintain the integrity of commercial weighing and measuring by routine testing of equipment and goods.

We now deal with more diverse issues under a wide variety of Acts, Orders and Codes of Practice, as set out by central government, the Food Standards Agency and the Office of Fair Trading.

How diverse are we? Well, for 26 (working) days, we’ll be showing you!

P is for . . .

Package Travel - The marketing, sale and performance of package holidays sold or offered for sale in the UK are regulated by The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. The Regulations apply to anyone who organises packages whether they are for profit or not, and whether they are for business or club purposes.

The term ‘package holiday’, as defined by the above Regulations, means a holiday with a pre-arranged combination of at least two of the following components:

• accommodation
• transport
• other tourist services accounting for a significant proportion of the package

The definition of ‘package holiday’ also covers holidays which are sold, or offered for sale, at an inclusive price and which cover a period of more than 24 hours or include overnight accommodation. The Regulations set out the tour operator’s legal responsibilities to you, and what you are entitled to should the tour operator fail to honour these obligations. Any false or misleading representations or descriptions about the holiday, hotel or facilities made by the tour operator or its representative are covered by the Regulations.

Pet Food - All feeding stuffs whether for pets or livestock must have a statutory statement, i.e. a declaration (in standard form) of the main nutritional qualities of the product. Moreover, these statements must be correct within certain limits. There is no such prescription for human food.

There are two main types of pet food which pet owners need to be aware of to ensure they give their pets sufficient nutrients. The product label will indicate which of these two categories it belongs to.

Complete pet foods – these are suitable to be fed as the only food over an extended period of time.

Complementary pet foods – these have a high content of certain substances, but must be used in conjunction with other pet foods to provide adequate nutrition.

Trading Standards inspect premises where pet food is produced, examine and advise on the labelling of pet food, and also take samples of pet food to ensure that they meet the relevant safety requirements.

Petroleum - Trading Standards is responsible for ensuring safety at sites where petrol is delivered, stored and dispensed.

Petrol is a highly volatile and explosive product, which can dissolve many types of plastic. It is vital that any petrol supplies are stored in the correct types of container, and that their contents are clearly marked.

Trading Standards has a duty to issue licences to premises keeping petroleum spirit, inspecting those premises to ensure that the petrol is stored safely, and they also have a duty to ensure that the correct amount of petrol is dispensed to a customer.

Proxy Sales - Proxy purchasing occurs when a person over the age 18 buys alcohol on behalf of someone underage.

Young people will approach strangers outside a shop or get friends, neighbours or in some cases parents to buy it for them.

The Licensing Act 2003 makes it an offence for a person to buy alcohol on behalf of a young person under the age of 18 years. A person found to be committing this offence can face a fine of up to £5,000 if convicted.

Sellers could also be held responsible if they were aware that the alcohol was going to be handed to a young person.

 

Lighting on petrol forecourts

The lack of light on a petrol forecourt is a hazard to staff and customers.

Most large petrol sites take their deliveries of petrol and diesel at night to avoid traffic, and to lower the risks to the public.  However deliveries are the most hazardous of times on the site and it is important that the competent person has sufficient light in which to operate safely.

 

Suffolk Trading Standards have undertaken tests in the past at sites around the County, and found that some had poor or very poor lighting, especially around the tanker standing area.

As such, Trading Standards are undertaking a project throughout January, visiting Petrol Forecourts (after dark), to test whether the areas of the forecourt and road tanker unloading areas, are adequately illuminated at all time of use.  Using a calibrated Light Meter, we will be ensuring that all sites meet the illuminance of 100 Lux at ground level.

Trading Standards are brought to you by the letter D . . .

Historically, we were known as Suffolk Weights and Measures Department because our primary function was to maintain the integrity of commercial weighing and measuring by routine testing of equipment and goods.

We now deal with more diverse issues under a wide variety of Acts, Orders and Codes of Practice, as set out by central government, the Food Standards Agency and the Office of Fair Trading.

How diverse are we? Well, for 26 (working) days, we’ll be showing you!

D is for . . .

Decommissioning of Petrol Tanks - Where equipment for storing or dispensing petrol is taken out of use, the site operator should ensure that the work is carried out safely and that the equipment is left in a safe state. The decommissioning should take place as soon as is practicable after operation has ceased and should include:

• The removal from site of the storage tanks and associated pipe work or rendering the tanks safe in situ.
• The removal of the dispensers.
• The cleaning and where appropriate the removal of the oil separator and connected surface water drainage system.
• The disconnection and removal, where appropriate, of the electrical installation.

It should be noted that section 73(1) of the Public Health Act 1961 places a statutory duty on the occupier of premises on which there is a fixed tank or other fixed container which has been used for the storage of petroleum spirit and is no longer used for that purpose, to take all such steps as may be reasonably necessary to prevent danger from that container.

If the work is not carried out satisfactorily and within the stated timescale, Trading Standards is able to issue a statutory Improvement Notice to ensure the disused tank is permanently made safe.

Failure to carry out the requirements of the Improvement Notice may result in legal proceedings being taken against the site operator.

Any Suffolk operator requiring advise on how to decommission their tanks, whether temporarily or permanently, should contact Trading Standards on 01473 264859.

Digital Forensics – Digital Forensics is simply the investigation work Trading Standards undertakes in relation to computer investigations, using analysis techniques to determine potential evidence. Evidence might be sought in a wide range of computer crime or misuse including counterfeiting, car clocking, theft of trade secrets, theft of or destruction of intellectual property, and fraud.

Undertaking Digital Forensics, we can recover everything from emails and Word documents through to accounting information and business records. We can even recover deleted files and information from re-formatted or corrupted media (hard disk drives, CD’s, DVD’s, digital cameras etc).

Doorstep Crime - Most people who call at your home will be genuine. But sometimes people turn up unannounced with the intention of tricking people either by high pressure selling or using false identification. Their aim is to get into people’s homes and you always need to be aware when someone you don’t know calls at your door.

Many people find high-pressure doorstep sellers intimidating. Remember, just because someone has come to your house it doesn’t mean that you are obliged to buy. Even if you do choose to buy something from a doorstep seller, you still have rights as a consumer.

Trading Standards enforce the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008.  The Regulations allow for a 7-day cancellation period of contracts for work, entered into following a cold call. Cancellation information must be given in writing at the time an agreement is entered into. A failure to provide written cancellation information results in a criminal offence being committed.

Suffolk Trading Standards is committed to ensuring that traders selling goods and services by cold calling in Suffolk, comply with the law and will take prompt legal action to ensure that elderly and vulnerable residents are protected from being tricked or conned by unscrupulous doorstep callers.

Suffolk residents concerned about doorstep callers operating in their area or worried about elderly or vulnerable neighbours being targeted can contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 040506.

Vital advice on petrol storage

AS PEOPLE in Suffolk consider how to respond to the potential fuel strike, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards have issued a joint safety message on the dangers of storing petrol at home.

Whilst any industrial action will not have an effect on frontline services, the county council is urging Suffolk residents to remain aware of the serious fire risks that surround the storage of fuels in domestic premises.

Petrol can be kept in a domestic garage or outbuilding, but there are restrictions on the amount that can be stored. Only the following combinations of two approved* containers are permitted:

• One suitable 10 litre metal container and one 5 litre approved plastic containers (totalling 15 litres), or
• Two 5 litre approved plastic containers (note only 10 litres can be kept, if 2 plastic containers are used)

The containers used must be robust, marked with their contents and have tight fitting lids to prevent leakage of liquid or vapour. They must also be stored securely – ideally they should be locked up and kept away from any combustible material. Under no circumstances should petrol be stored in the home.

Councillor Colin Spence, Suffolk County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Protection said; “We strongly advise against the bulk buying and storage of petrol. It is an incredibly dangerous substance which should never be kept in the home – it is not worth the risk to you, your family and your loved ones. It is also against the law.

“There are regulations about how and where it is kept, and we would advise people to take note of these. Petrol vapour is largely invisible and leakages can travel significant distances to find a source of ignition. We are advising people to conserve current fuel stocks by avoiding unnecessary journeys.”

* – If plastic, containers must comply with Petroleum Spirit container regulations established in 1982: Statutory Instrument 1982/630 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982/630/contents/made