Ealing Council’s trading standards team is working hard to protect consumers and safeguard businesses during the current COVID-19 crisis.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, substandard and falsely labelled PPE products have been seized, including 550,000 face masks and 5,000 bottles of dodgy hand sanitiser.
More than 2,300 hand sanitisers were seized from a business premise that did not comply with the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013. These hand sanitisers were imported from China and had alleged false descriptions on them.
A number of vehicles were searched and 200 face masks seized from one of them. Another vehicle containing more than 10,000 face masks was also inspected but later released.
Meanwhile, 500 ‘fashion face masks’ with alleged false safety descriptions applied to them such were also seized.
Lockdown visits
Activity during the lockdown includes 23 businesses that were visited and given advice on social distancing and safely trading.
Trading standards officers, accompanied by police, dealt with illegal street trading from vehicles in Bridge Road, Southall.
Council officers also visited various wholesalers to check safety. These businesses were mostly trading online but also preparing to trade with customers from 15 June.
The team gave advice on safely opening and social distancing and took details from those requesting further information and links to the government advice.
Stay vigilant
Councillor Joanna Camadoo-Rothwell said: “Our trading standards officers have been brilliant in advising and enforcing laws with businesses, which has helped us achieve a good level of compliance across the borough.
“I encourage all residents to continue to stay vigilant by reporting consumer concerns to the authorities.”
All of this comes during London Trading Standards fourth annual city-wide awareness campaign, extended over four weeks from 18 May-12 June, entitled ‘Protecting Consumers, Safeguarding Businesses’ and continues to highlight the collective work of London Trading Standards to keep the city safe.
Report concerns about fake products to Citizens Advice consumer service online or call the helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Visit webpages on Ealing Council’s trading standards team for more information.
