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This site contains impartial free information, and is Government-backed.

The content on Business Companion is written and verified by expert contributors, but is not designed to be a replacement for professional advice and is intended only for guidance. Only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law.

Business Companion covers Trading Standards law for England, Scotland and Wales. For guidance on the law in Northern Ireland, please see nibusinessinfo.co.uk.

If you are in any doubt about your legal responsibilities with regard to the topics on this site and would like more guidance, start by getting in touch with your local Trading Standards service; you can find their contact details by using the search tool on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute website.

To get updates on new guidance and learn how Business Companion can support your business, sign up for our monthly Business Bulletin.

Links to the most recently updated guides can be found on the 'Latest updates' page, and updates for the last five months are listed on the 'News & updates' page.

The UK Government and the devolved administrations provide free-to-access support services that can help small businesses find the right support and obtain impartial advice, whether they are just starting out or looking to expand. Advisers provide tailored guidance and information on schemes and publicly funded business support programmes available in your local area and across the country. The services are available via telephone, email, webchat and social media.

If you are a consumer, please contact the Citizens Advice consumer service in England or the Citizens Advice consumer service in Wales. You can also contact either on 0808 223 1133 (call 0808 223 1144 to speak to a Welsh-speaking adviser). In Scotland, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. In Northern Ireland, contact Consumerline on 0300 123 6262. All four services provide free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues.

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