Free, impartial legal guidance for businesses
The basics
Unsure of the law on trading standards or whether the rules apply to you? Find out how the law sees businesses that sell to consumers
Get Started
Concise guidance
Want answers right now? Quick Guides are arranged by what, where and how you sell to help you find the information you need
Quick Guides
Detailed information
Know what you're looking for, or want to browse a list of specific guidance arranged by category? In-depth Guides deliver the detail
In-Depth GuidesBusiness in focus
Knives, bladed items and hazardous materials
Everything businesses need to know about knives, bladed items and hazardous materials
Read MoreBusiness Companion provides information for businesses and individuals that need to know about trading standards and consumer protection legislation
The site delivers guidance by default for England, but if you are trading in Scotland or Wales, you should choose your location using the drop-down list at the top of the page. This is because some laws apply to just one or two of the countries, while others extend to all three GB countries or the whole of the UK.
For guidance on the law in Northern Ireland, please see nibusinessinfo.co.uk
The guidance is divided up into 15 broad Quick Guides and each one contains a number of more detailed In-depth Guides.
There may be rules you are not aware of, so make sure you explore the site thoroughly.
If you don't know where to begin, or you're a new business, click Get Started above.
Recently published guidance
New Business in Focus guidance
Consumer vulnerability
Delivery charges
Knives, bladed items and hazardous materials
Renewable energy
New In-depth Guides
Botox and cosmetic fillers (England only)
Bovine viral diarrhoea (new for England)
Environmental ('green') claims
Exporting animals
High fat, sugar or salt (less healthy) foods (England only)
Importing animals
Knives, other bladed items and corrosive substances
Labelling of prepacked-for-direct-sale foods (England and Wales only)
Licensing of animal activities (England and Scotland only)
Sale of petrol and diesel from forecourts
UKCA marking
Latest news
Avian influenza: housing measures to be lifted
The housing restrictions for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced in November to help stop the spread of bird flu, are to be lifted on 2 May. More >
OPSS guidance on notifying authorities about unsafe products
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published Product Safety and Non-compliance Notification Guidance, which is intended to help businesses understand their obligations regarding notifiying authorities about unsafe products. More >
My Site
Sign up to watch guides for updates, and create collections to read later