What's the function of Fair Trading standards

What is the role of Fair Trading standards? Article by Richard Einerhann Fair-trading standards are regulations aimed at protecting the public and businesses from unsafe and illegal practices in the sale of goods and services, and to protect against rogue traders. There is a variety of consumer and competition legislation and regulation which can be grouped under the bracket of fair-trading standards, including topics such as product safety, food quality, fair trading, consumer credit, and weights and measures. Many consumer laws, such as those contained in the Trade Descriptions Act, have been replaced by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Business Protection Misleading Regulations 2008. These regulations prohibit all sorts of unfair commercial practices. For example, misleading or aggressive marketing or selling are unfair commercial practices and are unlawful under the regulations. A commercial solicitor can advise a business on the prohibited commercial practices. The main fair-trading laws that every business should be aware of are those regulating safetypricingcontracts for sale of goods or servicesproduct and service description weights and measurescompetitionintellectual property Different, and additional, requirements apply for the provision of services. And, specific fair-trading laws govern specific types of goods and services, such as food, tobacco, alcohol, weapons, and property. It is important that all businesses understand their obligations under fair-trading standards, as breaching them can result in harsh penalties being imposed, and even in business closure. A commercial solicitor can provide a business with legal advice regarding their obligations under fair-trading standards. The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are the main authorities responsible for enforcing these regulations. Although they have an enforcement role, they are also there to assist businesses with compliance. The Trading Standards service is provided by local government and is responsible for enforcing the regulations and assisting businesses within their local area. If any problems arise or you have any questions, you can obtain legal advice from a commercial solicitor. For example, your local Trading Standards service may contact you about a customer complaint made to them. It is important to address complaints properly to avoid a dispute growing and leading to legal action. A commercial solicitor can advise you on whether you have failed to comply with the law and what the best course of action is to resolve the problem. Richard Einerhann works for Contact Law, the UK's foremost legal brokerage company - finding the right company and commercial solicitors and specialist solicitors for your company's needs.

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