What we do
The Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service is responsible for ensuring that businesses comply with various pieces of consumer protection legislation. The key challenge for the service is to protect consumers and honest traders against sharp practice and unfair trading AND to bring about compliance through working in partnership with the business community and other public protection organisations.
The main areas we deal with are as follows:
Weights and Measures - to ensure that all goods sold by weight, volume, length or area are accurately measured.
Misleading price indications - it is illegal for a trader to give consumers price indications which are misleading or to make price comparisons which are not genuine, fair and meaningful.
False or misleading descriptions of goods and services - to ensure that goods and services are accurately described when they are offered for sale.
Price marking - in general, traders must display the price of all goods which they offer for sale. Also, large shops must show the unit price of goods which are prepacked in fixed quantities.
Hallmarking of precious metals - most gold, silver and platinum jewellery must be hallmarked by one of the Assay Offices.
Credit transactions - traders who offer credit to consumers must hold a valid consumer credit licence. Traders who advertise credit must comply with the appropriate regulations.
Estate agency and the misdescription of property - to ensure that estate agents act in the best interests of their clients, and that both buyers and sellers are treated honestly, fairly and promptly.
Video recordings - legislation regulating the video industry seeks to ensure that only classified films are offered for sale or rent, and that children are not able to rent or buy films which have an adult classification.
Counterfeit goods - the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service is resposble for enforcing the Trade Marks Act 1994, which prohibits the unauthorised use of trademarks.
Timeshare transactions and package travel - legislation controls the sale of timeshare, while package travel regulations seek to protect consumers in the event of holiday companies ceasing to trade.
Businesses who persistently trade unfairly - the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service investigates complaints about illegal trading practices and trading standard laws.
