East Lothian Trading Standards through its dedicated and professional officers provides a comprehensive service relating to the law and regulations that govern goods and services which we buy, hire and sell. This includes advice for both business and consumers.

Trading Standards Officers and Enforcement Officers cover the criminal enforcement aspects of the Service. They not only visit local traders but also cover goods from the point of manufacture or import through to the point of sale. Officers investigate complaints/enquiries of a criminal nature and have wide ranging powers to deal with individuals who flout the law.

The service is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all traders and a free, fair and equitable market place for both consumers and traders. As well as providing education and advice to empower consumers so they know and understand their rights and obligations in relation to the purchase of goods and services.

The areas of legislation covered ranges from animal health and welfare (foot and mouth), product counterfeiting, weights and measures, holiday misdescriptions and product safety. The service enforces over 1500 Acts of Parliament and associated Regulations.

What services we offer and what we do;

• Advice and guidance is offered to consumers under contact and civil law concerning the purchase of goods and services (eg faulty goods, refunds, guarantees, poor quality repair work, non-delivery of goods, non-completion of a service)
• A comprehensive business advice service offering advice, assistance and support to local retailers, wholesalers, producers and manufacturers on Trading Standards legislation to ensure a free and fair market place.
• The verification and testing of weighing and measuring equipment used when selling goods to the public and industry.
• Inspection and verification of public and private weighbridges that 'are in use for trade'.
• Visits to traders and advising on the law relating to weights and measures.
• Investigation of complaints relating to the criminal law concerning price, quality, quantity of consumer goods and services (property misdescription, overcharging, falsely described services, short measure/weight goods).
• Responsible for animal health and welfare legislation (disease outbreaks, foot and mouth, rabies). Advice to farmers on the law relating to animal health and welfare.
• Carrying out inspections, enquiries and complaints relating to fertilisers and feeding stuffs including the sampling of feeding stuffs on farm.
• Registration of establishments involved in the feed sector including farm mixers, manufacturers, and suppliers.
• Advice and registration of traders selling poisons and fireworks. Licensing of businesses under explosive and petroleum legislation (some petroleum licensing is now within the remit of Environmental Health).
• Responsible for complaints/enquiries concerning all aspects of consumer credit legislation.
• Monitoring of advertisements for compliance relating to credit, pricing, descriptions, and distance selling.
• Investigation of complaints/enquiries relating to trademarks and counterfeiting, such as counterfeit software, video tapes, dvd's, cd's and clothing.
• Inspection of traders at one-day sales, open-air markets, car boot sales and special events.
• Advice and enforce legislation relating to both the safety of consumer goods and to descriptions concerning the safe use of goods.
• Enforce the legislation relating to age restricted products, cigarettes, fireworks, solvents etc (not alcohol, this is dealt with by the Police)

For further information, please contact:

Tony Mcauley
Trading Standards Manager
Tel: 01620  827365
Email: tmcauley@eastlothian.gov.uk