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Many people are injured each year due to faulty consumer goods. The aim of the Consumer safety Team is to protect consumers against the supply of dangerous goods which are intended for private use.
In addition, the recently introduced General Product Safety Regulations impose a general duty on suppliers to ensure that all products, including second hand goods, supplied for private use are reasonably safe. These Regulations have resulted from a European Directive. The general trend with consumer safety legislation is towards harmonising standards for consumer goods throughout Europe to allow free movement of goods. Officers of the Consumer Safety Team have wide ranging powers to enforce these Regulations. The Consumer Safety Team carries out programmed inspections of premises to ensure that goods on sale in Ballymena are safe. In addition to providing advice to suppliers about legislation that applies to their products, officers sample a wide range of consumer goods which are either tested in-house, or sent to approved test houses for examination to ensure that they meet required standards of safety. As well as being able to examine goods and require any necessary information about them, authorised officers can suspend the sale of goods deemed to be unsafe. Officers can also require shopkeepers to remove unsafe products from sale and can prevent manufacturers, importers and wholesalers in Ballymena from distributing them. The publication "Don't Chance It!" contains further information for businesses and can be downloaded below.
The supply of unsafe goods is a criminal offence, and legal action can be taken against the manufacturer, importer, distributor or seller of goods that fail to meet safety standards. The Consumer Safety Team will also investigate complaints from consumers with respect to products that may be unsafe. Our aim is to identify any possible safety defects and to remove any unsafe products from sale.
What should I look for when buying goods?
When purchasing goods, you should follow The Consumer Code:-
q CE Mark (this should be found on ALL toys, electrical products and gas appliances) q BEAB Approval (British Electro Technical Approval Board) q Kitemark q Cigarette/match resistant label on furniture § Read all warnings carefully and follow the operating instruction § Keep receipts as proof of purchase § Only use goods or equipment for the purpose for which they are intended. If in doubt or if you want advice, contact Environmental Health.
What should I do if I think I have bought an unsafe product? Contact Environmental Health who will investigate the complaint. The officer may wish to examine the product. It will be useful if you still have the receipt or proof of purchase. The product or similar products may be sent for testing. The complaint procedure may take several months to complete. Any subsequent action taken by Environmental Health will relate to Consumer Protection and safety issues and not to attaining compensation for the complainant. This is a matter that can be dealt with through your own solicitor. Remember: We only deal with UNSAFE goods. For complaints about counterfeit or faulty goods or false/misleading descriptions, telephone Trading Standards on 028 90 253900.
PERFORMANCE
How to contact us You can contact us in person or in writing at: Consumer Safety Team Office hours (Monday to Friday): 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm • by telephone 028 2566 0373 Useful Links Downloadable documents
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| Ballymena Borough Council © 2006 | T: 08456 581 581 | E: council.reception@ballymena.gov.uk |
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