Role of Trading Standards

The Trading Standards Service is part of Regulation within Growth, Housing and Environment of the Government of Jersey. The main focus of the service is to create and maintain a regulatory environment in which business can prosper, that supports economic growth, builds on the good reputation of the island whilst continually improving consumer confidence.

The Service carries out a range of enforcement activities including:

• Investigating complaints and enquiries;
• Providing information and advice to the general public, consumers, business start-ups, community groups, school children and in-house retail and service sector staff groups;
• Key role in safeguarding in the community promoting awareness of scams and frauds working with partners as a member of the Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum;
• Providing information on statutory rights and responsibilities, product safety, practical child safety initiatives, publishing product recalls and safety warnings;
• Providing an easily accessible confidential consumer advice service to assist consumers in resolving disputes. The service is also utilised by businesses seeking to obtain advice on how best to deal with individual consumer cases and 'off island' consumers who have disputes with local business;
• Conducting a program of scheduled and unscheduled inspections and visits including price marking and accuracy testing of weighing and measuring equipment in use for trade;
• Carrying out market surveillance activities in relation to online retail activities, product safety and trademark protection;
• Work with businesses in providing advice and guidance to maintain compliance and encourage the continual development of best practice. Seek opportunities to provide early advice on compliance and due diligence to new ventures;
• Liaise with on and off island advice and enforcement agencies and act as a single point of contact for local businesses on Trading Standards issues.

Contact: tradingstandards@gov.je or telephone: 01534 448160.