Key Tasks - Trading Standards

Below is a non-exhaustive list of some of our key tasks for the year 2007/08.

• Continue to provide a comprehensive consumer advice service, both directly and in partnership with central government's Consumer Direct service
• Investigate all complaints involving potential criminal law breaches
• Comprehensively inspect all 'high risk' premises for compliance with trading standards legislation
• Comply with Food Standards Agency requirements in respect of planning and achieving necessary targets relating to food safety matters, as outlined in our Food Service Plan
• Ensure all agricultural premises are visited to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and to advise on
• Biosecurity issues, in accordance with our Animal Health and Welfare work plan
• Inspect all firework sellers
• Visit all petroleum sites to ensure compliance with safety requirements
• Continue to address the issue of under-age sales of alcohol, tobacco and other age-restricted products, through test-purchase exercises (where appropriate) and via liaison with other relevant organisations
• Maximise our contribution to joint working through the Trading Standards South East (TSSE) regional group and other appropriate focus groups
• Contribute to all relevant TSSE and other national food sampling and non-food projects
• Review our current distribution methods for information/advisory leaflets, targeting more community-based outlets, in particular libraries, post offices and doctors surgeries
• Review our current procedures for consulting with and acting on information supplied by people who use our Service
• Continue to develop and update the Service's Website in order to meet ongoing needs and improve facilities in terms of user interaction, access, and information provided
• Actively participate in the promotion of key services and current issues through National Consumer Week, and the appropriate use of promotional weeks on food and child safety themes
• Develop networking opportunities with local businesses and business groups
• Wherever possible, fully publicise all relevant aspects of the Service's work through press releases, articles and other contributions to the media
• Undertake specific projects ensuring that legislation in particular areas is complied with, in particular consumer advice toolkit, trickster (a play on perils of buying at the door), credit adverts on cars, car energy labelling, excessive food packaging, internet auctions, home information packs, information given to the catering trade, medical weighing machines, phthalates in plastics, jewellers, average weight bread, deli shops, wine glass sizes, and supermarket pricing
• Carry out routine inspections at all major visitor events and themed markets
• Continue to advise our 'Home Authority' companies on legal issues
• Deliver talks and presentations to local consumer and business groups on the work of the Service in general, or on specific topics as requested
• Full involvement in a TSSE initiative to counter problems with doorstep selling