Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
The Office of Fair Trading is the government body responsible for making markets work well for consumers. They cover competition, cartels and mergers, anti-money laundering, credit licensing, large scale civil law cases and Estate Agents. They also run the Consumer Codes approval scheme.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
DEFRA is the Government Department responsible for the environment, for food and farming, and for rural matters. Of particular relevance to Trading Standards is their work to encourage a thriving farming sector and a sustainable, healthy and secure food supply. In short, DEFRA determines what is required of the farming industry, and Trading Standards and other regulators carry out inspections to ensure that any requirements are complied with and to help farmers put in to practice what is required of them.
Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is an independent government department set up to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food. Their interests are in safe food and healthy eating. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for issuing food recall alerts to Trading Standards departments so that we can make sure unsafe food is removed from sale. They also carry out research to determine particular issues with regards to food products to inform our work as inspectors of food premises.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
BIS is a government department responsible for creating policy which looks to grow the economy, from higher education, skills and science to innovation, enterprise and business.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The job of the HSE is to prevent death, injury and ill-health to those at work and those affected by work activities.
In comparison, Trading Standards deals with unsafe products, unsafe workmanship (with a few exceptions) and unsafe sports grounds. We also license explosives, poisons and petrol storage to ensure that these products are stored safety.
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency cover waste carrying and broker licenses, permits for waste returns, waste shipping, waste treatment, storage and landfill, issues permits for use of handling of hazardous substances, pollution and emissions, and issues permits for water discharge or groundwater activities, radioactive substances and mining waste. They also cover pollution and emissions.
Trading Standards (County Council)
Trading Standards operates as part of local Councils and in Cambridgeshire we form part of the County Council. Unlike Central Government, our role is not to create the laws that govern businesses, but to make sure businesses are abiding by them. We do this through a mixture of education, visits and enforcement. Topics we cover include tackling rogue traders, the sale of alcohol and tobacco to underage children, product safety, counterfeiting, metrology, advice on consumer rights in relation to things they have bought or paid for and farm animal disease control and welfare.
Environmental Health (District Council)
Environmental Health Departments operate as part of local Councils as well, but in Cambridgeshire they form part of the District Councils. Like Trading Standards, some of their work involves carrying out inspections to business premises. The list below gives an indication of the range of issues they deal with:
- Bonfires - monitoring of air quality and prevention of pollution from industry and homes, including coal fires and bonfires
- Dog fouling - complaints about breach of bylaws and general advice
- Litter - street sweeping and litter clearance. District or parish councils may provide litterbins
- Noise - measurement, assessment and advice on all noise problems affecting people in their homes and at work
- Odours/smells - investigation of complaints relating to offensive odours, taking action if necessary
- Pest control - advice and action to remove ants, bees, bed bugs, fleas, hornets, mice, rats, wasps and other pests from homes and business premises
- Pollution control - covers water quality as well as issues mentioned above
- Straw/stubble burning - and other air pollution problems
- Animal boarding – licensing of catteries and kennels
- Pet shop licensing
- Stray dogs
- Zoo inspection and licensing
The websites for each District Council are available as links to the right.
Fire and Rescue Service
The Fire and Rescue Service ensures that appropriate fire safety measures are in place in public buildings and work places.