Free, impartial legal guidance for businesses
The basics
Unsure of the law on trading standards or whether the rules apply to you? Find out how the law sees businesses that sell to consumers
Get StartedConcise guidance
Want answers right now? Quick Guides are arranged by what, where and how you sell to help you find the information you need
Quick GuidesDetailed information
Know what you're looking for, or want to browse a list of specific guidance arranged by category? In-depth Guides deliver the detail
In-Depth GuidesBusiness Companion provides information for businesses and individuals that need to know about Trading Standards and consumer protection legislation
The site delivers guidance by default for England, but if you are trading in Scotland or Wales, you should choose your location using the drop-down list at the top of the page. This is because some laws apply to just one or two of the countries, while others extend to all three GB countries or the whole of the UK.
For guidance on the law in Northern Ireland, please see nibusinessinfo.co.uk
If you are a consumer in England or Wales, please contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 2231133. In Scotland, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. Both provide free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues.
The guidance is divided up into 15 broad Quick Guides and each one contains a number of more detailed In-depth Guides.
There may be rules you are not aware of, so make sure you explore the site thoroughly.
If you don't know where to begin, or you're a new business, click Get Started above.
New In-depth Guides
Animal gatherings (new for Scotland)
Bluetongue
Bovine viral diarrhoea (new for Wales)
Single-use plastics (new for Wales)
'Guidance for Scotland on food labelling etc'
Latest news
Used cars guidance update / Citizens Advice data on complaints
Business Companion's 'Car traders and consumer law' guidance has been updated as new data from Citizens Advice reveals that last year the charity's Consumer Service received a complaint about a used car every three minutes. More >
Next phase of the ban on single-use plastics
Since 1 October, single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays, cutlery and balloon sticks, and XPS / EPS polystyrene food or drink containers and cups have been banned in England, along with other products that were banned previously (subject to certain exemptions). Scotland has also banned certain single-use plastic products and Wales's first piece of legislation on the subject will come into force on 30 October. More >
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