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Essex Trading Standards

Essex Trading Standards has responsibility for the County of Essex (except for the Unitary Authorities of Southend on Sea and Thurrock)

Essex County Council Trading Standards Services works in partnership with others to create a safe and fair trading environment for all who live and do business in Essex. While the Service's major contributions to the Essex Approach come under the themes of "Our Working Lives", "Children & Young People" and "Older People and Independent Living", the unique regulatory tools and partnerships available to Trading Standards means the service can make a contribution across all ECC business groups.

The service works with 60,000 businesses in Essex to help them better comply with 80 Acts of Parliament and over 1000 sets of Regulations. Trading Standards Officers enforces this legislation in a number of ways, including investigating serious complaints and enquiries, undertaking inspections at retailers, wholesalers, importers and manufacturers, carrying out sampling and test-purchasing projects, advising and educating consumers and businesses alike, and seizing goods and prosecuting offenders to make Essex a better place to live and work.

The Trading Standards Service contributes and supports the work of the Essex Tobacco Alliance by:

• Under age sales – the provision of education, guidance and information to both retailers and young people on the issues surrounding under age sales of cigarettes and other products including alcohol, solvents and spray paints.
• The Service carries out test purchasing operations in relation to age-restricted products and takes any appropriate enforcement action where illegal sales are made.

For enquiries about under age sales of tobacco contact:
Peter Stratton - Operational Manager (Projects)
01245 341881 peter.stratton@essexcc.gov.uk

For enquiries about Trading Standards in general contact:
Steve Lynch - Strategic Manager, TS Operations
01245 341905 steve.lynch@essexcc.gov.uk

Or contact our website: www.essexcc.gov.uk

Southend Trading Standards

Southend Trading Standards has responsibility for the Unitary Authority area of Southend on Sea. The overall aim of the Service is ‘To ensure a fair and safe trading environment for both buyer and seller alike within the borough of Southend on Sea’.

Working towards the corporate Southend Borough Council ambitions and objectives, the Trading Standards Service contributes to the Education, Social Care, and Citizen Focussed ambitions, and helps towards the objectives of making Southend a Learning Town, a Safer Town, a Prosperous Town and a Supportive Town.

The Trading Standards Service supports and contributes to the Essex Tobacco Control Alliance and the Smoke Free Essex Partnership, and covers the following areas in relation to the work of Smoke Free Essex:

• Under age sales – the provision of education, guidance and information to both retailers and young people on the issues surrounding under age sales of cigarettes and other products including alcohol, solvents and spray paints.
• The Service carries out test purchasing operations in relation to age-restricted products and takes any appropriate enforcement action where illegal sales are made.
• CitizenCard – the support of the CitizenCard proof of Age scheme, which enables young people to enjoy proper access to the goods and services to which they are entitled and assists retailers of age-restricted products to ensure that only legal sales are made.
• The Service has representation on the Smoke Free Essex Executive Board, and contributes to the development and implementation of the SFE Action Plan.

Southend Trading Standards Service has responsibility for enforcing and advising on a multitude of consumer and trading legislation and, in conjunction with the national Consumer Direct service, provides a comprehensive consumer advice service to all Southend residents.

In addition, the Service provides a demand responsive business advice service to all Southend businesses.

Further information about the Service can be obtained from the Trading Standards web site: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/southend

Specific information regarding under age sales and involvement in the Smoke Free Essex Partnership can be obtained from Carl Robinson, Trading Standards Manager, on 01702 215156, email at carlrobinson@southend.gov.uk

Consumer advice on all matters can be obtained initially through the Consumer Direct national service, on 08454 040506.

Southend Borough Council
Trading Standards Service
Floor 12
Civic Centre
Victoria Avenue
Southend on Sea
SS2 6ZG