Business advice on consumer law

The business companion website from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, guidance on GOV.UK, weights and measures fees and charges, become a trusted trader.

Business advice on consumer law

If you run a business, or are considering setting up a new business, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute have created a "Business Companion" website which will provide you with detailed advice and guidance.

Business companion

The Business Companion has guidance on the following:

What you sell	Goods Consumers' rights when they buy goods from you, including information on when to offer a refund, repair or replacement	Digital Consumers' rights when you supply digital content - such as a mobile phone app, a computer game or a DVD	Services Consumers' rights when they buy your services - for example, estate agent services or mobile phone contract providers
Where you sell	On-premises sales Selling on your business premises - for example, a shop or market stall (or when a contract is not made off-premises or at a distance)	Off-premises sales Selling goods, services and digital content away from your business premises, such as contracts made in the customer's home or workplace	Distance sales The sales of goods, services and digital content without face-to-face contact with the customer - such as online, mail order or by telephone
How you sell	Consumer contracts How and when a consumer contract is made, and how to be sure your transactions are legal and fair	Good practice Your legal obligation to trade fairly with your customers; the law that protects consumers from unfair trading practices	Pricing & payment The rules that cover displaying prices, unit and sale pricing, and taking payments legally and fairly
Key topics	Underage sales The age restrictions that apply to the sale of certain products and services, including alcohol, tobacco, blades, solvents and sunbeds	Food & drink What the law says on preparing and selling food and drink, including hygiene, composition, labelling and packing	Product safety If you import, produce or distribute goods, including second-hand, the law states they must be safe for the consumer to use
Key activities	Animals & agriculture The law on the welfare of livestock, including transport, diseases, animal / pet feed and disposal	Weights & measures The rules on selling goods by weight or measure - quantity, labelling, equipment and inspections	Business information / other General business guidance, and a list of activities you may not expect to be covered by trading standards legislation

Further guidance

Detailed business guidance on the sale of goods and services and data protection can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Detailed business guidance for toy manufacturers can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Detailed business guidance on product safety legislation (The Blue Guide) can be found on the European Commission website.

Weights and measures fees and charges

For a full list of weighs and measures services and their costs, please visit the Fees and Charges webpage.

Become a Trusted Trader

Renfrewshire Council, in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council, operate a directory of customer rated local businesses. Members agree to abide by a specific code of practice as set out and vetted by Trading Standards.

Both councils will, in turn, promote member businesses to Renfrewshire & East Renfrewshire customers.

Visit our Become a Trusted Trader homepage for more information.

Renfrewshire Council