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
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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
Business Companion provides information for businesses and individuals that need to know about Trading Standards and consumer protection legislation
Business Companion's In-depth Guides deliver guidance for the whole of Great Britain. The default setting is 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
If you are a consumer in England or Wales, please contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 2231133. In Scotland, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. Both provide free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues.
The guidance is divided up into 15 broad Quick Guides, and each one contains a number of more detailed In-depth Guides. The site also includes a number of 'Business in Focus' 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.
New In-depth Guides
Am I in business?
Alcoholic beverages and alcohol in food
Bluetongue
Bovine viral diarrhoea (new for Wales)
Consumer contracts: general
Labelling and composition of spirit drinks
Protection from unfair trading (criminal law)
Latest news
FSA campaign (inc. industry guidance) on the effects that glycerol in slush ice drinks has on children
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) launched a new campaign to warn parents and caregivers not to give children under 7 slush ice drinks or 'slushies' containing glycerol. More >
Guidance on important changes to consumer law
On 6 April, parts of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) came into force. The DMCCA brings in some of the biggest changes to consumer law for many years, and it will gradually revoke the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, as well as affecting some other legislation. More >
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