CTSI has welcomed early moves by the new Government to address consumer protection issues on which the Institute has long been pushing for reform – and has stressed the need for sufficient dedicated funding to ensure Trading Standards is equipped to put the law into practice.
In areas including renters’ rights, product safety, and sales of tobacco and vapes, the King’s Speech on 17 July set out a swathe of upcoming legislation and policy which it is hoped will improve protections for consumers and legitimate businesses.
A new Product Safety and Metrology Bill will be launched, designed in part to address issues including the fire risks posed by e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries. The Bill, which will cover almost all manufactured goods and affect an estimated 220,000 UK businesses, will also include mechanisms to identify new and emerging issues in the supply chain and will enable more effective sharing of data between regulators and market surveillance authorities.
It is also hoped that it will result in clearer responsibilities for online sellers and provide stability and certainty for UK businesses around things like CE marking and international safety standards.
CTSI has long been pushing for a robust and modernised product safety system, most recently in its ‘Mind the Gap Between the Chain and the Platform’ policy report.
On the home front, the Renters’ Rights Bill will abolish Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’, and strengthen tenants’ protections, including new rights to challenge rent increases and to request a pet. It will also apply a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector and bolster local authorities’ enforcement powers to clamp down on unscrupulous landlords and rogue elements in the sector.
Trading Standards has long been calling for better protections for tenants and a more joined-up approach between housing legislation and enforcement.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill – which was launched with much fanfare by the previous government but subsequently scrapped when the election was called – will progressively raise the legal age of sale for tobacco in order to stub out cigarettes in the long term; prevent the marketing of vapes to children; and reinforce enforcement powers, including new Fixed Penalty Notices for underage tobacco and vape sales.
CTSI has previously called for better legislation – and increased resources – to tackle the epidemic of illicit and underage vape sales sweeping the country.
Other legislation set out in the King’s Speech which is relevant to Trading Standards professionals includes the Skills England Bill, which aims to bring together employers, unions and others to boost skills training; the Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which plans to set out equal pay rights for people from minority ethnic groups and disabled people; and the flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill, under which 1.5 million new homes will be built in England and Wales, requiring stringent oversight to ensure quality and standards are maintained.
Elsewhere, there will be new restrictions on the advertising of junk food and high caffeine energy drinks to children; and ‘greater devolution’ of decision-making to metro mayors and combined authorities in England.
Building bridges
CTSI Chief Executive, John Herriman, said: “We are encouraged to see that the new Labour Government have hit the ground running and have already pledged progress in many of the areas that CTSI has been actively engaging with previous Government on.
“An effective and well-resourced Trading Standards profession is key to protecting the public and is fundamental to ensure that many of the Government’s ambitions are successful, such as the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Product Safety and Metrology Bill, and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Boots on the ground Trading Standards Officers will be crucial to the success of many of today’s announcements.
“CTSI is committed to working and engaging with the various Government departments to highlight areas of risk and to put forward practical solutions to instigate change that will protect UK consumers and support honest businesses. The role of Trading Standards with the right capacity is critical to supporting economic growth.”
CTSI has been working hard to forge links with the new Government, writing to Ministers to highlight its Manifesto, and to push for greater engagement between lawmakers and Trading Standards. In areas including tobacco and vape enforcement, farming and food production, housing and product safety, CTSI has written to relevant departments to ensure that the voice of Trading Standards is heard in policy discussions.
The Institute has also written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer to highlight the vital work of Trading Standards, including the pivotal role it will play in the push to build new homes, make the UK’s existing housing stock more energy-efficient, and improve consumer confidence in the sector.
Leave a comment