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Trading Standards advice for businesses

The Trading Standards enforcement team works with businesses to promote a fair trading environment for traders and consumers in Middlesbrough. This also helps the town to grow economically.

The service offers advice, intervenes in illegal practices to give confidence to consumers, and helps to create successful businesses which comply with legal requirements.

Support for businesses

We offer free, impartial advice to Middlesbrough businesses to help them to comply with the law. Businesses can contact us via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

The Trading Standards team can:

  • advise businesses on legislation
  • investigate breaches of consumer protection legislation
  • enter and inspect premises
  • make test purchases and take samples
  • seize and detain goods
  • prosecute traders who commit offences

We can advise businesses on, and enforce a wide range of rules, including:

  • safety of goods
  • fair trading
  • misleading prices
  • counterfeit goods
  • the sale of age-restricted products
  • ensuring the accuracy of weighing and measuring equipment

Business Companion will also help you to understand Trading Standards laws and avoid breaking the rules.

Changes to your business following the UK's exit from the EU

Now that negotiations between the UK Government and the European Union have concluded and a deal on future trade arrangements has been agreed, businesses will need to understand what is expected of them, including on issues such as the use of the UKCA marking (previously named CE mark). A range of guidance on product safety and metrology is available on the government website.

This guidance covers the changes to product safety and metrology legislation which came into force on 1 January 2021. It includes a 'what's changed?' summary of key changes to legislation amended by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

If you have any questions about changes which may affect your business, or if you're thinking of starting up a new business and are unsure of your legal obligations, please email EHTS@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

Tees Valley Measurement

The Tees Valley Measurement partnership provides high accuracy calibration of weighing and measuring equipment. This partnership includes our neighbouring authorities and performs statutory weights and measures duties, and additional commercial calibration services.