Trading Standards Institute call for National Audit Office action as cuts bite

The chief executive of the Trading Standards Institute has called on the National Audit Office to look at the system of consumer protection in its entirety – including local enforcement – when reviewing changes to the consumer landscape.

The comments from Leon Livermore came as the TSI warned that average cuts of 40% to trading standards budgets in England and Wales between 2010 and 2016 would “devastate vulnerable consumers”.

“These cuts leave the country open to an influx of dangerous counterfeit goods and will place elderly and vulnerable consumers at greater risk of losing their independence,” the Institute said.

According to the TSI, more than 70% of trading standards services that responded to a survey suggested they would have to restrict or stop some services.

The research identified the North West as being particularly affected by the cuts. Almost half of the trading standards services in the region have seen their budgets cut by a third already since 2010.

Livermore said: “The nature of trading standards, which is to serve as a watchdog for businesses and consumers, means its value is often overlooked until services are gone.

“When another horsemeat scandal breaks or a counterfeit toy results in the death of a child – that's when trading standards are missed. Trading standards are an invaluable service and we are reaching a level where further cuts are unsustainable. Enough is enough.”

The TSI also called for an end to the “postcode lottery” in relation to the funding of trading standards services.

Chrissie Florczyk, director general of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACA), said: “This survey reflects a worrying picture that our members recognise from their daily work with local authorities. We are very concerned at the scale and speed of these staffing reductions and funding cuts which will leave consumers exposed and markets open to non-tax paying and unscrupulous rogue businesses.  
  
“We are particularly concerned that there is no overall assessment of the impact of such drastic service reductions. Central and local government must articulate a clear plan to ensure that protections for consumers and businesses that trading standards provide are delivered.”