Phil Owen Director of Professional Standards Trading Standards - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Phil Owen Director of Professional Standards Trading Standards Institute Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Introduction • Consumer Landscape Implementation • The Trading Standards Institute – Trading Standards Practitioner – Trading Standards Qualifications Framework – Common approach to regulators competency • EMARS online learning resource • Home Authority & Primary Authority • CE marking • Consumer safety and standards Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Consumer Landscape Implementation • National Audit Office 2010 review on Consumer Protection…Lack of coordination. • Creation of a National Trading Standards Board; • Regional group representatives, • Non-executive places for TSI, ACTSO, WHoTS & SCOTSS Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Consumer Landscape Review Update • The NTSB will be responsible for: • An integrated national intelligence system • The coordination of trading standards enforcement activity regionally and nationally including management of enforcement databases. • Funding and supervision of trading standards teams in the English regions and Wales, and a small number of national centres of excellence • The maintenance and use of a national indemnity fund to support local authorities bringing large or risky cases in the national interest. • The tasking of problematic supra-local enforcement cases within the trading standards network Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Parliament (Public Accounts Committee) BIS £ £ TSI Chair ACTSO Programme Office MOU National Trading Standards Board £ Local Authority (LA) LA LA = £ = = Decision flow Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Non – NTSB responsibilities for TSI • Consumer code process • Business education – Provision of materials for business in regard to consumers rights – Website, leaflets, guidance – Will not replace LA’s advice Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

TSI • Professional Body - Leading the Trading Standards Profession – Membership association (Non profit) – Promotes Trading Standards – Supports Trading Standards – Education and Training Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Broadcast and Community • In 80 authorities across UK • England Wales, Scotland and NI • Wizard provided Business Advice Pack • Completely Updated • Recession support for Business Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Education and Training • Administer Trading Standards Practitioner • Administer and award professional qualifications – Trading Standards Qualification Framework • Accredit and certify training • Ensure the ongoing competence of members – Created “Common approach to regulatory competence” with; – BRDO, CIEH, IoL and National regulators Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Identifying/Measuring Competency Needs The Tools: R egulators’ Development Needs Analysis • The RDNA helps Practitioners to identify their development needs, to then produce a development & training plan. • NOTE: The TSQF underpins and is the basis for the RDNA. Guidance for Regulators – Information Point • GRIP supports development planning by identifying how those development needs can be meet. Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

PROSAFE online learning Step 1: Register Step 2: Ask for the key code from the PROSAFE Secretariat Step 3: Start learning! Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

PROSAFE • EU-China-USA Trilateral Consumer Product Safety Roundtable (EU-China Trade Project) • PROSAFE JA China – March 2012 – Commissioner Dalli together with Minister Zhi released a common press statement stating their support for the initiative Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

PROSAFE • JA 2012 was launched in February 2012 • The product specific activities PROSAFE are putting forward in this JA 2012 include: – Child Care Articles - to include push chairs AND bathing aids – Nanotechnology and Cosmetics (as this is a new area for DG SANCO to deliver on) – Ladders. Apparently DG SANCO specifically asked PROSAFE to include ladders (telescopic and hinged) within this joint action – CO & Smoke detectors – Cords and Drawstring – Acoustic devices or: Sound pressure (toys, MP3 etc) Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Home Authority & Primary Authority Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

CE Marking • DG ENTR now refers to the CE marking as a consumer safety mark; • Some argue; CE Marking cannot be a guarantee, or even indication, that a toy is safe. • Problem of falsely-affixed CE Marking continues to exist; • RAPEX database reveals that there have been almost 250 notifications of unsafe toys so far in 2012, most bearing CE Marking. Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Consumer safety & Standards • Market Surveillance Coordination Committee – BIS Competent Authority • Product Safety Focus Group: • East Midlands ; Candles - In the shape of a cake with cherries on the top, cause of confusion if product has a “bitterness” chemical which could negate the bite test. Inconsistency on enforcement leads to lack of confidence in the service. – The Netherlands…he has research to state 3 year olds have not developed taste buds. • NETSA North West ; Bling Dummies – Compliant baby products customised with glitter, plastic jewels, beads etc… Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Website Leading the Trading Standards Profession

TSI Conference 2013 • Main Plenaries on – Energy & Green Deal – Business Education – Health Agenda • Mini-theatre sessions • Institute Celebrates Success • YCOY and CCQ • 150 Exhibition stands 18 th June to 20 th June 2013 Leading the Trading Standards Profession Leading the Trading Standards Profession

Thank you Leading the Trading Standards Profession