Free, impartial legal guidance for businesses

Business Companion provides information for businesses and individuals that need to know about trading standards and consumer protection legislation

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
Environmental ('green') claims
Exporting animals
Importing animals
Knives, other bladed items and corrosive substances
Labelling of prepacked-for-direct-sale foods
Licensing of animal activities

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 >