Trading Standards work as part of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Product Safety at Ports and Borders Programme.
Falkirk Trading Standards are a Market Surveillance Authority and are responsible for ensuring that consumer goods imported via Grangemouth comply with product safety laws.
What we do
The Trading Standards team are responsible for ensuring that consumer goods imported via Grangemouth comply with product safety laws.
Consignments subject to an intervention are identified by the Border Referral Team at OPSS or by the Trading Standards team through analysis of risk and intelligence.
Trading Standards also carry out their own manifest searches and place local holds on consignments.
The team carry out examinations of high-risk consumer products arriving in the UK via the Port of Grangemouth and regularly take samples in order to assess compliance with relevant product safety legislation.
Product samples many be subject to an in-house examination, but many samples are submitted for further testing to an external test house.
If products are found to be non-compliant with safety laws, they may be refused entry, or importers many be required to carry out re-labelling under the supervision of their local Trading Standards. Products presenting a serious risk may be destroyed.
Information for Importers and Agents
Consignments identified via manifest searches by Falkirk Trading Standards
When a consignment is placed on hold on Destin8 by Falkirk Trading Standards you will be directed to this website for details of what is required. The following documentation should be submitted to:
- Entry acceptance advice
- C88
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading
The documentation will be assessed and a further request may be made for product safety documentation which shows compliance with the relevant UK legislation. This documentation should be traceable and in English.
Consignments identified by the Border Referrals Team
If you receive a notification on CHIEF, you need to send documentation to the Border Referral Team. The following documentation needs to be submitted to:
- Entry acceptance advice
- C88
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading
This documentation will be assessed by the Border Referral Team at OPSS and referred to Falkirk Trading Standards if appropriate. A request will be made by Falkirk Trading Standards for product safety documentation which shows compliance with the relevant UK legislation. This documentation should be traceable and in English.
Physical Examinations
Consignments may then be subject to a physical examination. The port operator will apply charges for shunting the container, gas testing and outturn. There are no charges applied by Trading Standards.
Consignments are released if the goods are found to be complaint with all safety laws and standards. If goods are found to be non-compliant, they may be refused entry into the UK or in some circumstances, may be released for further work under the supervision of the importer's local Trading Standards Service. Unsafe goods may be refused entry and destroyed.
Guidance on Placing goods on the market in Great Britain
Guidance on what you need to do to comply with regulations on manufactured good you place on the GB market is available on Gov.uk
Guidance on Product Safety Law: Compliance advice for manufacturers and importers
Guidance on how to ensure the products you make or import comply with the law and are safe for consumers to use is available on Gov.uk.
Product Safety for Businesses: A to Z of industry guidance
Find out what regulations apply to your products and where to go for further information on how to comply with them on Gov.uk.
Business Companion
Free, impartial legal guidance can be found on the business companion website.